A 17-year-old girl has been arrested

Charlotte Polius, 15, of Carroll Close, Stratford, east London, was attacked at a 16th birthday party in Ilford.

Her uncle Steve Howsen, 37, said: "I cannot put it into words to explain the grief my family is going through."

A girl, 17, arrested near the scene is being questioned. Officers are trying to trace all the guests at the party.

"The family are devastated, absolutely devastated. Words cannot express the way the family feels at present," Mr Howsen said.

'Taken away'

"My niece is not around any longer and I want to see justice.

"Nothing will bring her back. I am talking about a young girl who lost her life - her whole life has been taken away."

Charlotte had been living with her mother Mary, stepfather Paul, brother Dion, 10, and step-sister Priscilla, three in nearby Stratford.

Charlotte had been one of the invited guests at the party, which had been invaded by dozens of gatecrashers in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Officers had gone to the house in Saxon Road at about 0030 BST on Sunday after a squad car was flagged down. The girl was found suffering from stab wounds.

Detectives have also asked parents whose children may have been at the party to "ensure that they contact police on their child's behalf".

Street chase

Senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp John Macdonald said: "There are a number of people who were at the party, who have not yet come forward, please can they make themselves known to police.

"Also, if parents know or suspect that their son or daughter was at the party in Saxon Road, can they ensure that they contact police on their child's behalf."

He said after the stabbing there was a chase from Saxon Road into Norman Road, and then into Ilford Lane, involving several people.

The victim was taken to hospital where she later died.

"There were about 50 to 60 people in the street, shouting at each other and the police," Sherman Anglin, who lives in the street, said.

"A man came to use my toilet because police would not let them back inside and he said his niece had been stabbed in the neck, but I was led to believe she was fine when she went off in the ambulance.

"I didn't realise she had died - I am shocked. This is tragic."

A post mortem examination confirmed the cause of death was a stab wound.