Teenagers were 'targeted by gatecrashers wearing face coverings' at suburban house party and knifed to death during violent altercation

Two teenagers who had been best friends since school were stabbed to death after being targeted by gatecrashers wearing face coverings at a suburban house party.

Dominic Ansah and Ben Gillham-Rice, both 17, died on Saturday night following a violent altercation at the detached property in the Emerson Valley area of Milton Keynes.

Thames Valley Police have launched a double murder investigation but so far, no arrests have been made.

A birthday banner that had been strung across the front door had been ripped down, replaced with splattered blood.

Detectives said that they believe the people responsible were not invited to the four-bedroomed, £350,000 house.

Two other men, aged 17 and 23, were taken to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries, and one has been discharged.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter said between 15 to 20 people had been at the party and that "the people directly involved in this incident are all likely to have known each other".

In an update on Monday afternoon, he said: "We know that the party was a private birthday party, and although we believe that all of those involved were known to each other, we believe that those responsible arrived at the party uninvited, wore face coverings and they were armed with knives in what appears to be a targeted attack.

"We are following a number of active lines of enquiry at this time, including speaking to those who were guests at the party and the two injured victims. Whilst no arrests have yet been made, we are working around the clock to make arrests and are continuing to search relevant places."

Violent crime in the area has gradually risen over the last year.

Latest crime figures suggest the number of incidents in the Thames Valley area increased from around 4,500 in August 2018 to 5,100 12 months later.

Neighbours who rushed outside as the commotion spilled onto the street shortly before midnight on Saturday suggested that the deaths might be gang-related.

One witness said that the quiet street was swarming with police and ambulance crews within minutes.

"The police were here pretty quick," she said

“I looked out of the window and saw something was not right. There were a lot of youths outside."

A neighbour who witnessed one stabbing said that he was shocked by the level of violence and called the police straight away.

He said: “I called it in. What I saw wasn’t right. The violence of it was shocking. It wasn’t a one-on-one fight. There was a group of them.”

A woman whose son had been at the party told the Telegraph that one of the victims had “died in his arms.”

“They were his friends,” she said. “It’s gang related. Those boys were lured there and targeted.”

One of the victims died at the scene. The other boy was rushed to hospital but died later from his injuries.

The property was surrounded by a heavy police presence last night and forensic officers were examining the front drive for evidence.

Residents said a police helicopter circled above “obviously looking for someone."

A cousin of Dominic who arrived at the scene to lay flowers described him as “the most respectful young man ever.”

She added: “Many people’s hearts are broken.

“He’s come here with his long time best friend since childhood and come to a party and both of their lives have just been ripped away from them.”

The two boys are understood to have attended the local Hazeley Academy together before leaving last summer.

Ben is since believed to have been working with his father’s construction business.

Iain Stewart  the MP for Milton Keynes South, said he was shocked and would be speaking to police.

He wrote on Twitter: "I offer my deepest condolences to the families affected and am available to offer them assistance."

Police said that Home Office post-mortems for the two boys that died will be conducted on Tuesday.