Two teenagers have been convicted of murder for stabbing a 19-year-old in a case of mistaken identity.

The pair, who cannot be named, were aged just 14 at the time of the murder of 19-year-old Hussein Ahmed in South Harrow.

Mr Ahmed was stabbed once in the back as he was riding his bike outside a takeaway in Northolt Road just after 5pm on November 18 last year.

His brother Shamarke Ahmed said: “Hussein would never hurt anyone or get involved in fighting - he was a very peaceful person.”

The 14-year-olds were also convicted of grievous bodily harm, wounding with intent and attempted GBH wounding with intent against two other 18-year-olds in an incident earlier that afternoon.

A third teenager was also charged but cleared of all three offences.

Police believe the attacks were a “call to arms” after being tipped off of a new gang in town, though Mr Ahmed had no links to any gangs or that Mr Ahmed could have been intervening to stop another attack.

Detective Inspector Simon Stancombe, from the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command, said:

"The two boys who murdered Hussein were just 14 years old. Tragically, it no longer comes as a surprise that children carry knives and are prepared to use them against other youngsters.

"Seven months on, Hussein's family are understandably still struggling to come to terms with their loss. Trying to explain to his little sister that he's never coming back makes the pain even worse.

"I would implore parents to talk to their children about both the utter futility and unimaginably grave consequences of carrying a knife. No more families should have to suffer the heartache that Hussein's family have."

Mr Stancombe also said the attack had been carefully planned, as the killers wore surgical gloves to avoid leaving forensic evidence and disposed of their mobile phones after the murder had taken place.

The trial at the Old Bailey heard that the three teenagers had come together and made their plan at the Grahame Park Estate, Grahame Park Way, on November 16.