Adam Henry murder: Second man remanded after London manhunt

A twenty-two-year-old man accused of the murder of schoolboy Adam Henry has been remanded in custody following his first court appearance, ending a two-week manhunt across the capital.

Abdel Derdour appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 29 December, charged with the murder of the 15-year-old, who was fatally stabbed in Islington earlier this month. Derdour is also facing a second charge of possession of a knife in a public place relating to the same date, 9 December.

Standing in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit, the defendant spoke only to confirm his identity during the brief procedural hearing. Derdour, of Old Gloucester Street in Camden, did not enter a plea. He was formally remanded in custody by the magistrates and ordered to appear next at Inner London Crown Court on New Year’s Eve, where a bail determination is expected to be made by a judge.

The court appearance follows a significant police operation launched by Scotland Yard. Detectives had issued an urgent appeal to locate Derdour following the death of Adam Henry. The manhunt concluded on Boxing Day, 26 December, when armed officers raided a property in north-west London.

During that operation, police detained five individuals. Alongside Derdour, three men and a woman—aged between 18 and 47—were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the 47-year-old woman was further arrested for assaulting a police officer during the raid, while a 39-year-old man was further arrested for domestic violence and driving offences. All five remain subject to police inquiries.

Read more: Weston murder: Teen charged over death of nine-year-old

The investigation centres on the events of Tuesday, 9 December. Police were called at approximately 13:02hrs to reports of a stabbing on Westbourne Road, Islington. Adam Henry was discovered at the scene suffering from critical knife wounds. Despite the efforts of emergency responders and medical staff, the teenager died in hospital later that day.

Derdour is the second person to be charged in connection with the killing. Tsidi Winion, 20, of Handyside Street, Camden, was charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon on 15 December. Winion has already appeared in court and a provisional trial date has been set for 6 August 2026.