Police in Birmingham hunting for a group of men who chased then stabbed a 14-year-old black child to death have made six arrests and referred themselves to the police watchdog amid claims the killing was racially motivated.
West Midlands police had earlier said there was nothing to support a racial motive in Monday’s stabbing, despite concern in the community that this was the case. However, on Tuesday evening the force changed that stance, saying they were keeping an open mind as to the motive.
The teenager, who has not been named, was chased down by a group of people and stabbed on a busy road in Kingstanding, north Birmingham, at about 7.30pm on Monday and died at the scene.
West Midlands police believe up to seven suspects ran off after the boy collapsed. On Tuesday evening police said the arrests of six males in connection with their murder investigation included teenagers and men in their thirties.
Police said: “A man aged 33 was arrested from an address in Kingstanding [Birmingham] at 3.35pm followed by a 13-year-old boy who was detained in the Walsall area.
“Another man and a 14-year-old boy were arrested from a vehicle in Cheshire while two men, aged 36 and 35, surrendered to separate police stations in the West Midlands. All six have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody.”
DCI Stu Mobberley, leading the investigation, said: “We are aware of many different rumours circulating about the motive for the murder but we are keeping an open mind and pursuing all lines of inquiry. We ask people not to speculate on social media.”
Earlier on Tuesday, amid growing concerns in the community as to the motive, police had issued a statement saying they did not believe the killing to be racially motivated. Mobberley had said there was “some speculation in the community that this was a racially motivated attack”, but officers had found “nothing to suggest” this was the case.
Police said they they was voluntarily referring themselves to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conductover whether they had dealt properly with earlier incidents involving the victim.
The community activist Desmond Jaddoo said he had consoled the victim’s family at the scene of the attack on Monday night and he hoped the police would properly explore the possibility of a racist motive.
“I would ask the police that this is kept on their agenda and that no stone is left unturned, and not dismiss any feedback from our community,” he said. “Please let us remain calm, let the police do their job and let’s hold them to account on this.”
He said people were particularly concerned that such brutal violence had happened in broad daylight on a busy thoroughfare.
“As always, there is tension in the community following the death of a youngster and extra concern at the younger ages,” Jaddoo said. “His mother was clearly distraught and heartbroken to know that her 14-year-old son just went out with friends like anyone else and is not returning home.”
Police said they believed the teenager was chased on College Road, Kingstanding, by a number of people in the direction of a McDonald’s restaurant at about 7.30pm. He was then believed to have been stabbed by one of the group. He collapsed on the road and was pronounced dead a short time later.
West Midlands ambulance service said it sent two ambulances to the scene, which arrived within five minutes of the 999 call. The service said “nothing could be done” to save the teenager.
The West Midlands police and crime commissioner, Simon Foster, said the attack had “shocked and appalled the people of the West Midlands”. He said: “Whilst those close to the boy are facing untold grief, I would like to reassure them and the wider community that West Midlands police are working around the clock to find those responsible for this, and officers won’t rest until they do.”
Jaddoo urged Foster to show “leadership and take control” of what was happening. “We don’t want to be losing any more of our children,” he said.
