Tributes have been paid to a 14-year-old aspiring rapper who was stabbed to death on a bus in south-east London on Tuesday afternoon.

The boy, who has not been formally identified by police, was fatally injured on a route 472 bus in Woolwich Church Street, close to the Woolwich Ferry, just before 2.30pm, in what police called a “horrendous” crime.

A number of messages featuring pictures of doves were posted below a rap video on Instagram, in which a masked figure is seen holding a microphone as he performs for the camera in an underground car park.

It is understood the 14-year-old boy used the rap name Grippa.

He was “briefly” a pupil at St Columba’s Catholic Boys School in Bexleyheath, south-east London, in 2022.

The South East London Catholic Academy Trust released a statement to say: “We are saddened by the loss of life in Woolwich yesterday of a young boy who was briefly a pupil of St Columba’s in 2022.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

“Our schools will provide support to any of the students who may be affected by this senseless violence.”

On Tuesday, Mark Rodney, from anti-knife crime charity Project Lifeline, told reporters that just two weeks ago the victim had laid flowers for another teenager who met a violent death.

Daejaun Campbell, 15, was stabbed to death in Eglinton Road, Woolwich, on September 22 last year, less than a mile-and-a-half away from Tuesday’s stabbing.

There was also a non-fatal stabbing at around 4.20pm on Monday in Prince Imperial Road, Woolwich, which led to an 18-year-old man being admitted to hospital. It is not thought to be linked to Tuesday’s murder.

Some 10 teenagers were killed in London last year, nine of whom were the victims of stabbing while one died in a shooting, according to data compiled by the PA news agency.

This was down sharply from 21 teenage deaths in the capital in 2023.

The youngest victim in 2024 was 14.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Metropolitan Police Deputy Commander Louise Sargent described the attack as a “horrendous crime”, and said it is a “worrying time” for local residents.

She told reporters at the scene: “I’m very sad to say that, this afternoon, a 14-year-old boy has died.

“The initial alert was raised by a local officer out on patrol.

“Paramedics treated a 14-year-old boy at the scene who had received stab wounds but, really sadly, he died shortly after medics arrived.

“Our thoughts at this time are with the victim’s family and friends.

“This is a horrendous crime, and I can’t imagine what they must be going through right now.

“We are working at pace to identify and arrest those involved.

“I know this will be a worrying time for everyone here in Woolwich, and all the more so given the very young age of the victim.”