A murder investigation has been launched after a tragic stabbing attack in Bristol resulted in the deaths of two teenage boys. The incident occurred on Ilminster Avenue in Knowle West, south Bristol, and may have been witnessed by passengers on a bus.
The Avon and Somerset police confirmed that the attack, carried out by a group who fled the scene in a car, was shocking and tragic. A 44-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy have been arrested and are in custody, and a vehicle has been seized. The police are searching for additional suspects, and the Bristol area commander, Supt Mark Runacres, is leading the investigation.
Runacres appealed for witnesses, particularly those who were traveling on a bus on Ilminster Avenue at the time of the stabbings, to come forward with any information. He emphasized the importance of the community’s support and the determination of the police to bring the responsible parties to justice.
Formal identification of the victims and a postmortem are due to be carried out, and police have assigned liaison officers to support the families and provide updates on the investigation. The victims were taken to two hospitals, Southmead hospital and Bristol Royal hospital for children, where they both died early on Sunday morning.
View image in fullscreenThe two boys were attacked in Ilminster Avenue in Knowle West. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA
An Avon and Somerset police statement said: “This is an incredibly shocking and tragic incident where two young boys, who had their whole lives ahead of them, have sadly died.”
A mobile police station was to be set up near the scene to take witness statements and gather CCTV and doorbell footage. A police cordon was in place around the scene, and a doubledecker bus was among the vehicles in the closed-off area. Runacres warned residents to expect a large police presence as the investigation, including house-to-house inquiries, continued.
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