The family of a UK teenager who was stabbed to death just moments before New Year's in London has paid tribute to him as "mischievous and cheeky".
London's Metropolitan Police confirmed 16-year-old Harry Pitman was fatally stabbed at 11:40pm on Sunday (local time) - New Year's Eve - on Primrose Hill in north London.
Minutes after the attack, emergency services swarmed the scene and police officers provided medical assistance to Pitman, but he was pronounced dead just before midnight.
Pitman was out celebrating New Year's with a group of friends when he became involved in an altercation that police described as having "devastating consequences".
"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time," Met Police said, confirming a homicide investigation had been launched.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder, police confirmed.
'Keep on expecting him to come through the front door'
The death of the teenager has "devastated" his family, who said they can't comprehend it.
Pitman's older sister Talya, 19, paid tribute to her younger brother - telling the UK's MailOnline he was "mischievous and cheeky" but he "didn't have a bad bone in his body" and "always stood up for what was right".
"It doesn't seem real," she said. "I keep on expecting him to come through the front door.
"His dinner is still in the oven; mum can't bring herself to remove it. I'm devastated, he was my baby brother."
She also had a message for the alleged killer, saying she hoped they were aware of what they had done.
"I hope whoever has done this knows they haven't just taken a life, they've destroyed a whole family and community," Tayla told the Daily Mail. "I hope that thought eats away at them for the rest of their life."
A local woman to Primrose Hill said there were most likely "hundreds if not thousands" of people there at the time of the attack.
"It's not just a young people's party - there would have been families with young children there, too," she said.
"It would have been rammed. It's not just locals - people come from miles around."
Lead investigator Det Chief Insp Geoff Grogan said Pitman's family are "understandably devastated" and specially trained officers are supporting them.
"We know Harry was with a group of friends near the viewing platform on Primrose Hill where they had gathered to celebrate the New Year," Grogan said, as reported by the Daily Mail.
"It is here where we believe Harry became involved in an altercation with devastating consequences."
