Police arrest fifth person over death of ex-Tory activist’s aspiring lawyer son

A fifth person has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of an aspiring lawyer who was knifed in an ‘completely unprovoked’ attack as he went to buy a bagel.

Police say a 20-year-old man has today been detained over the stabbing of 22-year-old Sven Badzak in Kilburn, north-west London. 

Mr Badzak’s mother, a former Tory party activist, said her son was walking to a bagel shop when he was knifed to death in the attack, involving six people, on February 6.

Four others previously arrested in connection with the investigation. These are a 17-year-old boy, two 19-year-old men and a 20-year-old man. 

The Metropolitan Police say all four remain on bail. 

Police say 20-year-old man has today been detained over the stabbing of 22-year-old Sven Badzak in Kilburn, north-west London.

The 16-year-old also suffered multiple stab injuries but managed to escape into a shop in Willesden Lane and is now recovering from his injuries. Pictured: Police at the scene

Mr Badzak, from Maida Hill, west London, was privately educated at Wetherby and Portland Place schools before attending Roehampton University and was an aspiring lawyer, his mother said.  

Jasna Badzak, 49, a former Conservative Party activist, said her son had gone to a shop to get orange juice and then to a bagel shop when he was attacked.  

He and his 16-year-old friend were chased at around 5.30pm.

They became separated and Mr Badzak fell to the ground and was stabbed repeatedly.

The 16-year-old also suffered multiple stab injuries but managed to escape into a shop in Willesden Lane and is now recovering from his injuries. 

Devastated Ms Badzak has previously spoken about the incident. She told the BBC: ‘[Sven] wasn’t running away from anybody.

‘They came to that conclusion yesterday after the pathology inquest was done. That found out that six people were there and at least three different knives were used.

‘Sven was standing in front of the bakery to have his bagels made. They found a 7cm-wide stab wound going all the way through him, and an additional three wounds on his lower back and backside, and not a single scratch on his hands.

‘My poor child didn’t even have his hands used to protect himself. He was just stopping to wait for his football friend. And that is why that younger kid is in the hospital and my son is dead.’ 

Ms Badzak said her son was aware of London’s knife crime crisis and took steps to try to keep himself safe.

‘He was very careful about his surroundings,’ she said. ‘He’d never engage with a group of eight people carrying huge knives.

Ms Badzak (pictured) said a pathology report revealed her son had been attacked with at least three different knives

Knife crime victim Sven Badzak met Prime Minister Boris Johnson as a child. He was stabbed to death on his way to pick up some orange juice

The victim, who was an aspiring actor and model, had been privately educated at Wetherby and Portland Place schools before attending Roehampton University and had been seeking advice on becoming a lawyer before he was killed. Pictured: Sven Badzak pictured as a child with his mother and former chancellor George Osbourne

‘His death was completely unprovoked and I have witnesses saying Sven was standing in front of the bakery.

‘The Waitrose bag with orange juice in that he bought using my card was found at the same place where he died.’

Ms Badzak said Sven, who had a degree in sociology but wanted to become a lawyer, had met the Prime Minister and other well-known Conservative politicians when he was 10, through her campaigning work with the party.

Asked if she had received any contact from Mr Johnson, she said: ‘No, none whatsoever.

‘A person that he knew is dead. At least the courtesy should be to call the person he knows about the death of her son. Sven was still a young kid. I still don’t know the version of events after he was stabbed.’ 

Anybody with information is urged to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 5580/06Feb or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.