WALTHAM Forest Council leader Clyde Loakes is to call for an urgent meeting with the leaders and mayors of the five Olympic boroughs, following this morning’s murder.

An 18-year-old man was found near Walthamstow central bus station in Selborne Road, at about 1.40am with severe knife wounds.

He was later pronounced dead in hospital.

As a result, the council announced that the Global Voices event, which would have featured singing from the London Gospel Community Choir, was cancelled.

Cllr Loakes now wants to speak to the leaders of the other Olympic boroughs, Newham, Greenwich, Tower Hamlets and Hackney, to discuss how the Games can be used to tackle knife crime.

Cllr Loakes said: “I was devastated to learn that instead of celebrating London officially becoming the next Olympic host, in Walthamstow we would be mourning the loss of another young life.

“Yet again a small criminal minority have acted with devastating effect. This must stop.

“Knife crime is a serious problem, threatening not just Londoners but every part of the United Kingdom.

“Crimes of violence have no place in this borough.

“Tackling knife and gang crime is a priority for the authority and we continue to work closely with the police to intervene as early as possible and provide positive activities for young people in the borough.

“The safety and welfare of our young people is the responsibility of everyone in our community and we need everyone to work together to provide them with a strong future.

“As the leader of Waltham Forest Council, I intend to call an urgent meeting of the leaders and mayors of the five host boroughs.

“We need to work with the police and the Mayor of London to use our unique position to deter young people from carrying knives. As host boroughs, we must use the power of the Games coming to East London to inspire change in our communities, change for our young people.”