Teenager held over young footballer's murder

By Tim Castle

LONDON (Reuters) - A 13-year-old boy was arrested on Saturday in connection with the murder of a teenager in east London, Scotland Yard said.

Officers found the victim, named locally as 17-year-old Jahmal Mason-Blair, with a stab injury to his neck on Amhurst Road in Hackney shortly before 1 a.m.

An air ambulance doctor pronounced the boy dead at the scene.

Mason-Blair was a talented footballer who had no involvement with gangs, his elder brother Shaun told Sky News.

"He didn't have a bad bone in his body ... everyone is just shocked," he said.

Friend Connie Drew told BBC TV he was a "lovely young boy ... he lived for football."

More than 900 people had signed up to a Facebook tribute website by late Saturday evening.

"Jahmal was a great son, great brother & a great friend & he will be dearly Missed," a message on the site read.