Shawn Seesahai: Young killers’ Snapchat revealed

Weapons like those used in both murders are legally available to buy online to over-18s, although it is illegal to carry them without “good reason”.

The government had announced plans to tighten the law, external, but it is not clear now what will happen after the general election.

“We have to block all avenues and not allow these weapons to be so easily accessible,” Ronan Kanda’s sister, Nikita, said.

“The government definitely needs to do more. They need to act fast because too many lives are being lost now.”

Her brother’s murderers managed to bypass rules that prevent under-18s buying such weapons, and the boy who bought the machete used to kill Shawn Seesahai said he bought it for £40 from a “friend of a friend”.

Questions remain about whether weapons like machetes ought to be allowed for sale in this country, as do fears that very young children can get their hands on them, and are not afraid to use them.