Heartbreaking family photos show Hainault sword attack victim, 14, dressed up as Spiderman and smiling next to his science teacher mother - as family say death of their 'wonderful child' has left a 'gaping wound'

Heartbreaking family photos of Daniel Anjorin dressed up as Spiderman and smiling next to his mother have been revealed after he was killed in yesterday's London sword attack.

The 14-year-old schoolboy, who is one of three children from a respected churchgoing Nigerian family, was mortally wounded as he left his home in Laing Close to go to school just before 7am.

Friends of Daniel's parents say they are struggling to cope with the devastatingly violent loss of their son, and have turned to their deep-seated personal faith to get through it.

His mother works as a science teacher and his father is a health and safety consultant. They have today said his loss 'leaves a gaping wound in the family' and paid tribute to their 'wonderful child' who was 'well loved' and 'hard working'.

'No family should have to go through what we are experiencing today. Any family will understand it's an absolute tragedy,' they told Sky News.

Those who knew Daniel described the teenager as an 'amazing young man' who 'bought his family joy' during the 14-year life which was tragically cut short.

Family friend Janti Charambous said, whose son was in the same year as Daniel at Snaresbrook Primary School, said at the scene: 'Daniel was an amazing young man.

'He was good at his studies. He was good at his sports. Very much loved by many, many people and came from a wonderful family.

'The family are in shock. Obviously there are very heartbroken. He was such a young boy taken away from his family.

'What can we say? It's sad that it's happened in a family, a community like this. It's heartbreaking.

'At least they got their time to spend with Daniel, 14 years.'

She added that the family's 'faith is sustaining them' and 'we are all supporting them in any shape or form that they need'.

She said: 'He was a joyful boy — he brought his family joy and his life has just been taken away.

'He was much loved, his family are much loved.

'I was talking to my son and he was so heartbroken, he can remember Daniel driving his little car and playing in the street.

'He said he can't imagine it happening to his own brother.

'We've known the family for many years now and we are praying for them.'

Ade Caxton-Cole, who made friends with Daniel's mother Grace Anjorin when her child attended the same prep school, added: 'They have hope and we have hope that we will all be seeing him one day so long as we have hope in Christ.

'Faith is keeping them, the Lord is keeping them.'

Ms Charambous said she and Ms Caxton-Cole had known Daniel since he was a little boy and added: 'He is in heaven.

'We know we will all be seeing him again soon.'

The friends spent two hours in the property comforting the grieving family after arriving with a bag of gifts earlier today.

She said: 'We keep our faith and hope. We know Daniel is no longer with us. In Christ we are hopefully that we will be seeing Daniel again.

'That is a great comfort for everyone. It's painful because he's so young and the way he went.' 

Daniel went to the £24,990-a-year Bancroft's school in Woodford Green –where Nottingham stabbing victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar, 19, was also a pupil. The flag on the school's building flew at half-mast today.

The youngster, whose mother is a science teacher, was described as a 'true scholar' with a 'positive nature and gentle character' in a statement from the school today. 

It read: 'Daniel joined Bancroft's at seven-years old and quickly became a core member of our community. He was a true scholar, demonstrating commendable dedication to his academic pursuits.

'His positive nature and gentle character will leave a lasting impact on us. Losing such a young pupil is something we will always struggle to come to terms with.

'We are now doing all we can to support our entire community through this most painful situation. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Daniel's family during this incredibly difficult time.'

Headteacher Simon Marshall wrote a letter to parents expressing 'great sadness and shock' at Daniel's death.

He described the teenager as a 'much-loved' member of the school, and added: 'It is with great sadness and shock that I am writing to inform you of the tragic death of Daniel Anjorin, one of our pupils. Our thoughts and prayers at this moment are with Daniel's family and friends.'

The statement went on: 'It seems scarcely believable that less than a year on from the terrible death of Grace O'Malley-Kumar in the Nottingham attacks we are facing fresh sorrow.'

A friend of the schoolboy described him as a 'very good person' who excelled in maths, loved football and supported Arsenal. 

Cyan Thompson, 19, told the Independent: 'I'm way older but Daniel was better than me at maths. I was planning on playing football with him later today, but that's not going to happen.

'He was like a prime Messi, he could get past me very easily. He was small but very jinky. He was a very determined guy. I support Man City, he supports Arsenal, it was a good rivalry.'

Daniel's parents are health and safety consultant Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, 59, and science teacher Grace Anjorin, 49, who married in 2002.

Dr Anjorin is said to have worked for Transport for London for more than 20 years, and is a trustee for his local Citizens Advice Bureau, reported the Telegraph. 

Mrs Anjorin teaches at The Holy Family School in Walthamstow, which described its 'great sadness' at Daniel's death.

The chaos in Hainault saw a man armed with a sword go on the rampage, killing Daniel and injuring two other members of the public.

Officers had arrived at the scene within 12 minutes. The Met said they used Pava incapacitant spray and a Taser but these had 'limited impact'. 

Two officers were attacked and sustained serious injuries. 

The suspect fled again before being surrounded by other officers in Thurlow Gardens. They used Taser to overpower him. 

Witness Aiste Dabasinskaaite told ITV of the moment she saw a man fatally stab the teenager. She said the man asked her for the address of the area they were in, then put his foot on her foot so she 'couldn't back off'.

She said: 'Once I told the address, he sort of moved closer towards me, he put his foot on my foot so I couldn't back off and then that's when he like drew out the sword. It was arm's length. It was honestly petrifying. I just ran down the road, I didn't even look back to see if he was chasing me.'

Ms Dabasinskaaite said she tried to warn the teenager, adding: 'My instinct was to shout and wave at him, which is what me and another neighbour did but because he had just his headphones on I don't think he heard either of us. 

'It was sort of a moment where we just went from shouting to just blankness, just felt empty. You wouldn't think that would happen on your doorstep, you know.'

Daniel's mother works at Holy Family Catholic School, which published a statement on its website addressed to parents and carers that said: 'It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of the death of the child of one of our staff members.

'Mrs Anjorin's son was taken from this life suddenly this morning on his way to school. Please keep Mrs Anjorin, her husband and their other children in your prayers.'

The O'Malley-Kumar family are from Woodford Green, which is about three miles away from Hainault, and offered their support to the Anjorin family today.

Speaking on ITV'S Good Morning Britain (GMB) today, Miss O'Malley-Kumar's parents Sinead O'Malley and Dr Sanjoy Kumar offered to meet the boy's family and said they 'empathised' with them following yesterday's attack.

Mrs O'Malley said: 'I don't think there's anything that anybody can say to alleviate their heart and their pain so we wouldn't try to minimise that, but all we can do is empathise and hope they will heal with time.'

Her daughter was repeatedly stabbed to death after she came to the aid of her friend Barnaby Webber, also 19, instead of fleeing the scene.

Dr Kumar told GMB: 'It seems every day something like this is reported in the press. It's absolutely appalling, you can't even imagine what the parents are going through. This is the most difficult thing for any parent to endure.

'It's something we've endured now for many months and I can tell you how distraught the family are feeling, is only felt by a few like us who have lost children in these absolutely appalling circumstances.'

Miss Kumar, an England under-18s hockey player and University of Nottingham student, died a hero as she bravely tried to fight off Valdo Calocane, 32, during a city-wide rampage in Nottingham on June 13 last year.

Caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was fatally stabbed by Calocane and left for dead.

Calocane was sentenced to detention in a high-security hospital after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. 

But there will be a hearing on May 8 at the Royal Courts of Justice in London for a sentencing review.

Miss Kumar's 'astonishing bravery' was recognised during a previous court hearing in which Dr Kumar praised his daughter as a hero who shunned the opportunity to run away.

MPs and senior police officers have called for her to posthumously be given the George Cross - the highest civilian award for acts of 'the greatest heroism or of the most courage in circumstances of extreme danger'.

Her parents both support the call and told GMB they were 'humbled' by the suggestion she should be recognised for her bravery.

Also today, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said a female police officer suffered 'horrifically serious' arm injuries in the Hainault attack.

He told LBC that the officer had undergone several hours of surgery yesterday and faces 'a long journey of recovery' after nearly losing her hand.

He said: 'The surgeon spent many, many hours basically putting her arm back together.'

A male officer also suffered serious hand injuries and is recovering in hospital.

Speaking about the victim, Sir Mark said: 'The first thing you have to say is for the parents involved, who've lost their 14-year-old, that is just horrific, and it's everyone's worst nightmare. I'm sure we're all thinking about them.'

Terrified residents hid as the swordsman climbed over garden fences, before police managed to Taser and arrest him.

The 36-year-old suspect remains in hospital after being injured when he crashed his van into a house.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, of the Metropolitan Police, said he did not believe it was a targeted attack, and it is not believed to be terror related.

Dramatic footage captured the suspect being cornered and tasered by officers on a residential driveway.

The video shows officers shouting at the suspect, saying 'Don't move, don't f****** move' after he is brought to the ground by three separate Taser discharges.

The words 'Suspect contained' are eventually heard as a female officer pulls the sword away from the attacker.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the King's 'thoughts and prayers are with all those affected' by the 'horrific' stabbings, adding: 'In particular, the family of the young victim who has lost his life.'

Amid speculation about previous police contact with the suspect, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said that 'no trace of a prior incident' involving him had been found, but that the force will continue to make checks.

A neighbour from nearby Laing Close, who witnessed the attacks, said he could 'not stop envisioning the boy's face'.

James Fernando, 39, said the suspect had asked one of his neighbours to 'take the telephone from him to tell whoever was on the phone his location'.

He said: 'Within two seconds after that she's realised something isn't right, started running and he's pulled a samurai sword from the back of his trousers.

'She's shouted to the other neighbour - a Nigerian boy who was on his way to school. As he's turned around, he's struck him on the face... he was dead on the spot.

'It's quite traumatising now. I can't stop envisioning the boy's face.'

Speaking about what he saw of the suspect, Mr Fernando said: 'He was running around, still after the police officers came, with the sword in his hand, looking for victims.'

Another witness, who asked not to be named, said he heard shrieks and screams following the incident.

He said that from his window he saw a man dressed in yellow jumping over fences and heard someone shout 'He's got a massive knife'.

His words follow footage shared on social media of a man in the area dressed in a yellow hooded jumper brandishing a large knife in his right hand.

Other footage showed the suspect being chased by police as an officer is heard shouting 'Lock your doors' when the sword-wielding man entered residential gardens.

Officers could be heard yelling 'Come here', 'Come this way' and 'Drop the sword' at the suspect, who could be seen climbing on top of an outbuilding and dropping into a garden.

Rishi Sunak described the incident as 'shocking', adding: 'Such violence has no place on our streets'.

The Prime Minister also told the Commons today: 'I know that the thoughts of the whole House are with the people of Hainault in east London following yesterday's appalling attack.

'Such violence has no place on our streets. It is absolutely heart-breaking that a teenage boy has died and I can't imagine what his family are going through, and we send them our heartfelt condolences and offer our very best wishes to all those injured.

'I would just like to reiterate my thanks to the police and other emergency first responders for embodying the highest standards of public service under such awful circumstances.'

Footage shows a man in a yellow jumper chasing after an ambulance while holding a sword as a body lies motionless on the ground.

The home security video shows an ambulance parked next to the body lying on the road in Laing Close before the ambulance quickly drives away from the scene and the man runs after it, shouting. 

In another video clip, sent by an anonymous resident, a police car arrives before the man verbally confronts the police and shouts 'Is there anybody here who believes in God?' while standing next to the motionless body.A voice is heard shouting 'Drop the sword' before a police officer approaches the man and sprays a substance in his direction before he retreats.

Detective Chief Inspector Larry Smith, who is leading the investigation, said: 'This is an incredibly tragic incident that has resulted in a young boy losing his life and his family devastated. On behalf of the family, I would ask that their privacy is respected.

'This is a complex investigation due to the number of crime scenes, forensic evidence, hours of CCTV footage and witnesses we need to speak to. I know that many people will want answers and we are working to provide them as soon as we can. I would also echo previous calls for patience as my officers carry out a painstaking investigation to deliver justice for Daniel, his family, those injured and the wider community.

'We are starting to build a picture of what happened on Tuesday and I want to thank everyone who has come forward to share dashcam, doorbell and mobile phone footage with us.

'Likewise, thank you to witnesses, who were no doubt terrified by what they saw, and who have made vital contributions to our investigation. Anyone who has not yet spoken to police and has any information should contact us as soon as possible.'