Murder hunt after boy 'burnt beyond recognition'

A boy who has been found dead was stabbed and burnt beyond recognition.

British detectives have launched a murder inquiry and are trying to establish the identity of the child.

He is thought to be Asian and aged between 12 and 16, and had suffered serious injuries to his upper body.

He was found near a veterans' club in Roe Green Park, Kingsbury, north west London, by passers-by at 8.30am yesterday.

The area around the park has been sealed off.

John Hughes, 58, who lives near where the body was found, said: "The police came round and told me that a charred body was found in the park. It was so badly charred they couldn't identify the person. They said it was burnt beyond recognition."

Other residents said the neighbourhood had become more violent in recent years with gangs of teenage boys hanging around in the park and causing trouble.

Some neighbours spoke of their shock at the discovery and said they had always regarded the park is safe.

Georgina Kleanthous, 56, said: "When the police came here yesterday morning and cordoned off an area of the park we were so shocked."