Boy charged with attempted murder after stabbing

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
One boy has been charged and another has been arrested

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder and wounding with intent after two teenagers were stabbed at a bus stop in Kirkby.

The suspect, who cannot be named due to his age, was arrested on Wednesday after police were called to Whitefield Drive in Westvale, at 20:25 BST to reports a boy, 15, and a 14-year-old girl had been attacked.

The two victims are in hospital but are in a stable condition, Merseyside Police said.

A second suspect, a 15-year-old boy, has also been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and wounding with intent.

The 14-year-old boy charged with attempted murder was also charged with possession of a bladed article and is due to appear at Liverpool Youth Court later.

Police previously said the stabbing is believed to have been linked to a "pre-cursor event" in the Tithe Barn Lane area involving a group of youths around 30 minutes earlier.

Police tape surrounds a paved area close to a pub and a shop. Two police officers stand close to the cordon.
The two victims are in a stable condition in hospital

Witnesses described hearing screams and shouts after the attack outside a busy shop and pub.

One woman, who did not wish to be named, said she saw 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."

Merseyside Police had introduced a Section 60 order in the area, which gives officers enhanced powers to carry out searches.

Det Insp Graeme Osborne said: "Knives have no place on the streets of Merseyside and we will continue to do everything within our powers to find the people carrying and using weapons and bringing them to justice."

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