Elianne Andam’s family ‘struggling to comprehend’ her death at moving vigil

Dozens of people have laid flowers at the scene (Picture: James Manning/PA Wire)

The family of a schoolgirl killed on her way to school have said they are ‘struggling to comprehend’ her death.

Elianne Andam, 15, was killed in Croydon yesterday morning and a 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of her murder.

A moving vigil is being held at the scene of her death in south London this evening, with local church and community leaders, locals, friends and family in attendance.

Flowers have been laid on the ground, candles lit and speeches made.

A statement read out on behalf of the Andam family by a church leader said: ‘We as a family are struggling to comprehend this painful tragedy that has happened to our beautiful daughter and beloved sister Elianne. Our hearts are broken.

‘And we are overwhelmed by sorrow and grief. Our faith in the Lord is strengthening us.

‘We would like to express our gratitude to those who have taken the time to send us thoughtful and compassionate messages and prayers.

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‘We kindly ask for your consideration to also respect our need for privacy as we attempt to come to grips with our deeply devastating loss.

Family and friends, as well as community members, have paid tribute to Elianne (Picture: PA)

A prayer was given by a local bishop (Picture: PA)

Police officers observed a minute’s silence after laying flowers at the scene (Picture: PA)

‘Elianne was a beautiful person inside and out who loved Jesus. She was intelligent, thoughtful, kind and had a bright future ahead.

‘It is our request that you keep our cherished daughter Elianne and our family, in your thoughts and prayers.’

More than 20 close family and friends placed flowers where Elianne Andam was stabbed to death on Wednesday, before the group entered the nearby Whitgift shopping centre.

In a statement released through the Met Police her family previously said Elianne was the ‘light of our lives’.

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Those gathered held hands and consoled each other as they entered the building inside the police cordon.

Bishop Mark Nicholson from Acts Christian Church said: ‘Our hearts are burning. It doesn’t matter if you are related or not.

‘Another life lost. In our city always, majoring on knife crime.

‘I don’t have the solution but I can pray to bring solace. Not just one side of the family, both.

‘Loads of things are going on in their mind at the moment.’

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