Isschan Nicholls Photo: Metropolitan Police

Detectives have today arrested four young men and rearrested a fifth in connection with the murder of Isschan Nicholls, aged 18, in Bow last January.

Isschan Nicholls, a rapper from Poplar, died early on 15 January from stab wounds to the abdomen and thigh after he and a friend, aged 17, were attacked by a group of approximately 15 youths carrying weapons, including baseball bats and pieces of wood, in Parnell Road on the evening of Wednesday 13 January. The second victim was treated and discharged. Some reports at the time suggested Nicholls had been a victim of ‘postcode gang rivalry‘. Within days of his death, more than 1,500 had signed up to the Facebook site set up in Nicholls’ memory.

Today’s arrests bring the total number of people arrested in connection with this murder investigation to 16 people, ranging in age from 15 to 42. Nine were released with no further action taken in May, while three others were released with no further action taken in February.

The five teenagers arrested today are currently in custody at an east London police station.