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Age of stabbing suspect 'huge concern' - police

Jonny Humphries
BBC News
Reporting fromKirkby
Jonny Humphries/BBC A forensic investigator in white PPE collects evidence on the kerbside next to a yellow bus-stop. A wooden chair used to help the victims and a blue tarpaulin is lying nearbyJonny Humphries/BBC
Forensic work remained ongoing into Thursday lunchtime

The age of a suspect arrested on suspicion of stabbing two other children repeatedly at a bus-stop is a "huge concern", police said.

A 14-year-old boy is in custody on suspicion of attempted murder after a boy, 15, and a 14-year-old girl suffered knife wounds in Kirkby, Merseyside, shortly before 20:25 BST on Wednesday.

Merseyside Police Ch Insp Ray Mavrakakis, who grew up close to the scene on Whitefield Drive, told the BBC police believed the attack was related to an earlier incident involving a group of youths in nearby Tithe Barn Lane.

He added the force would "try to reassure the community as best we can".

Ch Insp Mavrakakis said: "It was a beautiful evening outside of a public house and a shop. It was witnessed by numerous members of the public... there will be a negative impact on the community."

BBC/Jonny Humphries Ray Mavrakakis, in his police uniform of a white shirt, black tie and black police cap, stands next to a stone monument carrying the crest of Merseyside Police and the words Police Headquarters BBC/Jonny Humphries
Ch Inps Ray Mavrakakis said he grew up close to the crime scene and was "hugely concerned" by the ages of those involved

One suspect is still at large, with detectives unclear if they were male or female from the clothes they were wearing.

Witnesses described looking out of their windows to see the boy collapsed near a bus-stop opposite the New Johnny Todd pub and a Go Local Extra shop.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said she was someone running away from the scene after hearing shouts and screams.

She added: "It's scary. You only really see it on the TV, but that close to where you live... I just hope they're alright."

Jonny Humphries/BBC Eddie Puskepalis, in his mid-20s with brown hair and a brown beard and wearing black t-shirt with a 'Youfibre' broadband logo, speaks to the camera with police tape and blue tarpaulin sheets next to a bus-stop behind him.Jonny Humphries/BBC
Eddie Puskepalis said he was shocked by what had happened

Eddie Puskepalis, who lives near the scene, said: "You never really think it's going to happen right outside of your front doorstep."

Another witness said residents and passers-by rushed to help the two teenage victims.

She told the BBC: "I'm completely speechless. I've got young kids, and all the kids will want to know what's going on."

Ch Insp Mavrakakis said the ages of the suspect and the two victims was a "huge concern" and led to the offence being declared a "critical incident" on Thursday.

He added: "Being from Kirkby myself, in particular Westvale, I grew up literally a mile down the round from where it happened last night.

"It concerns me greatly."

He said police would carry out enhanced stop-and-search procedures and had increased the number of patrols in the Westvale area.

"My appeal would be to anyone considering carrying a knife, it's just be absolutely aware of the consequences," Ch Insp Mavrakakis said.

He said people who carried knives for protection had to be aware "statistics prove that you can become a victim of serious violent crime".

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