Yahoo News Murder probe after teenage boy, 16, becomes second to be stabbed to death in Birmingham in a week
Police in Birmingham have launched a murder investigation after a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death on Wednesday night – the second teenager killed in the city in a week.
The teenager, who has not yet been named, was discovered with fatal injuries on Herbert Road in Small Heath, Birmingham, at around 8pm on Wednesday, West Midlands Police said.
The boy had suffered serious stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 15-year-old boy was treated by paramedics after he was assaulted and suffered minor injuries, the force added.
On Thursday, a wide police cordon surrounded Sara Park, its children’s play area and several nearby streets, with a few officers guarding the scene visible from the barrier tape.
In the early hours of Monday, a 22-year-man was stabbed during a fight outside the Karahi King takeaway in Coventry Road, just a few yards away from the park.
The latest attack comes just seven days after 16-year-old student Sidali Mohamed, who had fled war-torn Somalia with his family as a toddler, was stabbed outside Joseph Chamberlain College in Balsall Heath, a few minutes’ drive from the latest attack.
His life support machine was turned off two days later and police arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of attempted murder.
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In a statement, West Midlands Police said: ‘Detectives have launched a murder investigation after a teenager was discovered with fatal injuries in Birmingham last night.
‘Officers were called to Herbert Road, Small Heath, at around 8pm.
‘A 16-year-old boy was found critically injured having suffered stab wounds. Despite the best efforts of medics he was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘A 15-year-old boy was assaulted and suffered minor injuries, he was treated at the scene.
‘A cordon has been put in place while enquiries are carried out in the area.’
One Birmingham MP said she would be seeking emergency meetings with Home Secretary Sajid Javid in light of the recent spate of knife crime.
Birmingham Yardley Labour MP Jess Phillips tweeted: ‘Waking up to news of another young man murdered on edge of my constituency.
‘Will seek emergency meetings with Home Sec & we are already meeting with Local Govt ministers next week.
Waking up to news of another young man murdered on edge of my constituency.Will seek emergency meetings with Home Sec & we are already meeting with Local Govt ministers next week, they hollowed away our youth services/early intervention, they must make reparations to my community
— Jess Phillips (@jessphillips) February 21, 2019
‘They hollowed away our youth services/early intervention, they must make reparations to my community.’
Residents and councillors have also expressed their shock and concern at another stabbing on their doorstep.
City councillor Zaheer Khan, whose Small Heath ward borders the scene, said the boy’s death represented ‘another victim of knife crime’, and was a ‘tragic loss’.
‘Last summer, we had a spate of stabbings and murders in Small Heath,’ he said.
‘Personally, since those incidents, I have written to police several times about a lack of visible police presence.
‘I feel that lack of police resources means people believe they can do whatever they want.’
Yasmin Akhtar, a support worker who lives locally and has a 10-year-old son, said she feared for his safety after the murder.
She said: ‘I have a son and I really fear what is going to happen to him. Is it safe where we’re living? It’s such a shame.’
The 44-year-old, who had come to the police cordon surrounding the park, added: ‘My son goes to the school just here, by the park, Regents Park Primary, right by here.
‘Last week, we had that young lad who died at Joseph Chamberlain (College), and another stabbing up the road. It’s a joke.’
Detective Chief Inspector Edward Foster, from the force’s homicide team, said on Thursday: ‘The investigation is in its early stages and we are keen to hear from anyone who was in Herbert Road or Sara Park at just before 8pm last night.
‘A teenager has sadly lost his life and another was assaulted. We are working hard to establish the circumstances around what happened.’
Police have said a cordon is in place while inquiries are carried out in the area.
The force is appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
