Boy, 16, Stabbed to Death on Primrose Hill on New Year’s Eve is Named
A teenage boy who was stabbed to death in front of thousands of witnesses on New Year’s Eve has been named as 16-year-old Harry Pitman.
Pitman was attacked during celebrations at Primrose Hill in Camden at 11:40pm on Sunday night, where scores of people had gathered to watch the fireworks display.
The Met raced to the scene and waded through huge crowds of partygoers to reach the teen, but they were unable to get to him in time and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and remains in custody at a north London police station, the force said.
Primrose Hill was cordoned off on Monday morning as dozens of police patrolled the area and turned away families hoping to walk their dogs through the park.
Forensics teams arrived later in the day and a forensics tent could be seen at the crest of the park, while rubbish from Sunday night’s festivities littered the hillside.
The spot is among the most popular in the capital for those hoping to watch the London Eye fireworks, and one local woman said there were ‘hundreds if not thousands’ of people there at the time of the attack.
She said it was ‘absolutely tragic and shocking’ that a teenager could be killed on her doorstep, adding: ‘It’s not just a young people’s party – there would have been families with young children there, too.’
Police are appealing to the public for information on the stabbing, and a cordon is in place around the crime scene as officers continue to investigate the murder.
Forensics teams arrived later in the day and a forensics tent could be seen at the crest of the park, while litter from Sunday night’s festivities littered the hillside.
The force said Harry had been with a group of friends near the viewing platform at Primrose Hill to celebrate the new year and officers believed he was then involved in an ‘altercation with devastating consequences’.
Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Grogan, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘My thoughts and sympathies are with Harry’s family and friends at this difficult time. He was a young man with the rest of his life ahead of him.
‘His family are understandably devastated and specially trained officers are supporting them as they come to terms with their loss.
‘A dedicated team of detectives are working hard to establish the events that led to such a senseless act of violence. We are reviewing CCTV footage from the area and are carrying out a forensic examination of the scene.’
Primrose Hill is a popular spot for people watching the fireworks on New Year’s Eve, and police said it was busy at the time of the incident.
Another local, who wished not to be named, described the incident as ‘tragic but inevitable’, explaining he had made ‘hundreds’ of complaints to police about anti-social behaviour in the park.
He said it had become a ‘party hotspot’ with drugs and alcohol since the pandemic.
Gina Germano, a mother of two teenage boys who were at Primrose Hill at the time of the attack, said she had ‘warned’ them about gangs there, explaining it had become ‘rough’ since 2020.
The Met is asking anyone with information about the stabbing to come forward.
A university student who said they were at the scene when paramedics rushed to try to save Harry’s life said: ‘There were some officers holding a space on top of the hill which seemed strange, then we realised CPR was going on.
‘In pretty rapid time around two dozen more police arrived, put up a cordon, and ambulances then came through the crowd up to the top of the hill too.
‘The police – and then medical crew – were doing constant CPR for at least 10 minutes and likely longer before we arrived, but sadly to no avail.
‘(It must be) absolutely horrible for his family.’
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