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Teen arrested after boy, 12, dies in stabbing Teen arrested after boy, 12, dies in stabbing
(about 1 hour later)
West Midlands Police has appealed for information, including photo and video evidenceWest Midlands Police has appealed for information, including photo and video evidence
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder, following the death of a 12-year-old boy who was stabbed in Birmingham on Tuesday. A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 12-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Birmingham.
A member of the victim's family described him as "the most beautiful kind child", and "the nicest kid you would meet". West Midlands Police said the victim was stabbed in the stomach and found near Scribers Lane in Hall Green at about 15:40 GMT on Tuesday and died in hospital at 19:30.
The boy was found with serious injuries near Scribers Lane in Hall Green shortly after 15:00 GMT. A member of his family described him as "the most beautiful kind child" and "the nicest kid you would meet".
He was taken to hospital but died as a result of his injuries. At a press conference earlier, police said the 14-year-old had also been arrested in connection with an unrelated assault on a woman in her 80s on 19 January.
The family member added that the boy was "funny, sweet and had not one aggressive bone in his body", and had been walking a 10-minute route home when it happened. The boy's family said he had been walking a 10-minute route home when the attack happened and described him as "funny, sweet and had not one aggressive bone in his body".
Christ Church Secondary Academy posted a statement on its website expressing "condolences and deepest sympathies" for the friends and family of one of its students.
"This is a very sad time for our school community and we are focusing on supporting our students, staff and families," it added.
Drone footage shows the scene of boy's fatal stabbing
Scribers Lane is a long and busy road, surrounded by houses, shops and local schools, in the suburb of Hall Green.Scribers Lane is a long and busy road, surrounded by houses, shops and local schools, in the suburb of Hall Green.
The attack is believed to have taken place near the railway bridge, which is next to Trittiford Mill Park.The attack is believed to have taken place near the railway bridge, which is next to Trittiford Mill Park.
A woman, who did not want to be named, told the BBC that the park was "plagued" with anti-social behaviour, and she often saw groups of young people gathering there being "aggressive and threatening". A woman, who did not want to be named, told the BBC the park was "plagued" with anti-social behaviour and she often saw groups of young people gathering there being "aggressive and threatening".
West Midlands Police has appealed for information, as well as photo and video evidence.West Midlands Police has appealed for information, as well as photo and video evidence.
The force said the boy's family were being supported by specialist officers.The force said the boy's family were being supported by specialist officers.
Det Insp Joe Davenport said: "If you were in the area at the time and saw what happened, or think you may have captured any part of what happened on dashcam or mobile phone, it's vital you get in touch."Det Insp Joe Davenport said: "If you were in the area at the time and saw what happened, or think you may have captured any part of what happened on dashcam or mobile phone, it's vital you get in touch."
The boy died in hospital as a result of his injuriesThe boy died in hospital as a result of his injuries
Alison Cope's son Joshua Ribera was stabbed in the heart near a nightclub in Birmingham in 2013, and she now campaigns to stop youth violence.Alison Cope's son Joshua Ribera was stabbed in the heart near a nightclub in Birmingham in 2013, and she now campaigns to stop youth violence.
She told the BBC young people were "scared" of living in the West Midlands.She told the BBC young people were "scared" of living in the West Midlands.
"They see the headlines of some of the horrific cases that we've seen almost every week now.""They see the headlines of some of the horrific cases that we've seen almost every week now."
Ms Cope said the approach to youth violence in the region was "not working" and the subject needed to be added to the curriculum.Ms Cope said the approach to youth violence in the region was "not working" and the subject needed to be added to the curriculum.
"Children are being killed on the streets of the West Midlands, that's not a successful outcome as far as I'm concerned."Children are being killed on the streets of the West Midlands, that's not a successful outcome as far as I'm concerned.
"We have to make them understand, and the only way we're truly going to do that is through education.""We have to make them understand, and the only way we're truly going to do that is through education."
'We are not complacent''We are not complacent'
The latest knife crime figures, released in July 2024, show the West Midlands Police area has the highest rate of offences in England and Wales. The latest knife crime figures, released in July, show the West Midlands Police area has the highest rate of offences in England and Wales.
There have been several high-profile incidents in the region involving teenagers.There have been several high-profile incidents in the region involving teenagers.
In June 2024, two 12-year-old boys were found guilty of murdering Shawn Seesahai with a machete in Wolverhampton. In June, two 12-year-old boys were found guilty of murdering Shawn Seesahai with a machete in Wolverhampton.
In November, a 15-year-old boy was charged with murder after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed in Marston Green.In November, a 15-year-old boy was charged with murder after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed in Marston Green.
A 15-year-old boy was charged with attempted murder on 5 January, following the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in Oldbury.A 15-year-old boy was charged with attempted murder on 5 January, following the stabbing of a 14-year-old boy in Oldbury.
In October, the West Midlands' police and crime commissioner (PCC) said a new knife crime task force led by the home secretary would help to "keep our communities safe". In October, the West Midlands' police and crime commissioner Simon Foster said a new knife crime task force led by the home secretary would help to "keep our communities safe".
PCC Simon Foster said: "We are not complacent and never will be." He added: "We are not complacent and never will be."
According to the Office for National Statistics, in the year ending March 2023, 82% of teenage homicide victims were killed by a knife or sharp instrument compared to 41% of all homicide victims.According to the Office for National Statistics, in the year ending March 2023, 82% of teenage homicide victims were killed by a knife or sharp instrument compared to 41% of all homicide victims.
'Not easy to fix''Not easy to fix'
"Knife crime is just a horrific issue that's been raised with me so many times since I got elected in July," said Labour MP for West Bromwich Sarah Coombes."Knife crime is just a horrific issue that's been raised with me so many times since I got elected in July," said Labour MP for West Bromwich Sarah Coombes.
She told the BBC that police needed more money, knives needed to be taken off the streets and there needed to be early intervention.She told the BBC that police needed more money, knives needed to be taken off the streets and there needed to be early intervention.
"Often 14 or 15 is too late, often we need to be doing it more like eight years old, nine years old and really make them understand the horrific impact that carrying a knife has.""Often 14 or 15 is too late, often we need to be doing it more like eight years old, nine years old and really make them understand the horrific impact that carrying a knife has."
Coombes added that a loss of police in the region, especially PCSOs, had an impact, as well as a loss of youth services.Coombes added that a loss of police in the region, especially PCSOs, had an impact, as well as a loss of youth services.
"It's not easy to fix this problem, there are no quick fixes, but we have to be relentlessly focused on it.""It's not easy to fix this problem, there are no quick fixes, but we have to be relentlessly focused on it."
In September, the prime minister pledged to "double down" on knife crime at a summit at Downing Street aimed at halving it over the next decade.In September, the prime minister pledged to "double down" on knife crime at a summit at Downing Street aimed at halving it over the next decade.
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