Teenage girl killed in Croydon named as family pays tribute to 'light of our lives'
The Guardian|September 29, 2023
The parents of a teenage girl stabbed during morning rush hour have described her as the "light of our lives" before visiting the site of her death in south London.
Jamie Grierson, Mabel Banfield-Nwachi
Teenage girl killed in Croydon named as family pays tribute to 'light of our lives'

Elianne Andam was named as the 15-year-old victim of the daylight attack on Wellesley Road in Croydon on Wednesday morning.

A 17-year-old boy, who the police said knew the victim, was arrested nearly five miles away in New Addington on suspicion of murder just over an hour after the attack. A 12-hour extension to his custody time limit was granted yesterday.

The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, told the BBC he was "shocked" and "appalled" by the attack.

Yesterday evening, her parents, Michael and Dorcas Andam, appeared at the scene of the stabbing accompanied by about 20 friends and family members. They stood behind a police cordon and next to a bus stop, where a stationary number 60 bus has been parked since the attack.

The family were touching each other's shoulders in support, hugging and consoling each other, while some laid flowers alongside where it is believed she was stabbed, all under the gaze of dozens of photographers and camera operators before taking shelter in the Whitgift shopping centre.

Later, Rosemarie Mallett, bishop of Croydon, read a statement on behalf of the family, with Elianne's tearful aunt Marian by her side.

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