A murder investigation is in process after a 16-year-old was stabbed to death in a park.
The boy was found with stab wounds in Sara Park in Small Health, Birmingham at around 20:00 GMT on Wednesday and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another boy aged 15 suffered minor injuries during an assault.
Detective Chief Inspector Edward Foster, from the force’s homicide team, said: “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.”
A cordon has been put in place at the park but no arrests have been made. The force appealed for witnesses.
The death comes just a week after Mohammed Sidali,16, was fatally stabbed outside Joseph Chamberlain college in Highgate. Another 16-year-old was also stabbed in the stomach on Oxford Road, Smethwick on February 17.
Knife crime in the West Midlands has increased by 72% between April 2013 and the year ending in March 2018.
Across England there were 285 killings by a knife or sharp object in the 12 months ending March 2018, this is the highest since records began in 1946. Out of 43 forces, West Midlands Police were the third highest for knife crime offences per head of population between April 2017 to March 2018. The highest was Metropolitan police.
