The family of a teenage boy stabbed to death in north London say they have no idea who would target him, describing the 17-year-old as a “nice guy who was always smiley”.

Police launched a murder investigation after the body of Vasilaki Kakko was found in Yoke Close, Holloway, at about 8.50pm on Monday.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a stab wound to the neck.

The victim’s brother, Bruno, 25, told the Evening Standard: “He was just a lovely, nice guy who was always happy and smiley and loved playing around a lot.

“He was always very generous to his friends and family. He loved going out a lot, he was not a stay-at-home type.

“We just can’t get our heads round it at the moment. We have no idea who would target him.”

No arrests have been made and officers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command have said they “retain an open mind to the motive at this time”.

Vasilaki, from Newington Green, is the 18th teenager to be murdered in the capital this year – compared with 11 in the whole of 2014.

Knife crime offences resulting in injury across London have risen by 270 cases over 12 months – from 2,524 between January and September 2014, to 2,794 this year.