Heartbreaking family photos show Hainault sword attack victim, 14, dressed up ... trends now

Heartbreaking family photos of Daniel Anjorin dressed up as Spiderman and smiling next to his parents 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.