Police arrest girl and three boys all aged 14 after 12-year-old boy is stabbed in the back near Essex primary school
- One girl and three boys all aged 14 arrested by police and remain in custody
- Child stabbed in an alleyway near Briscoe Primary School in Pitsea, Essex
- Police and paramedics rushed to the scene and boy was airlifted to hospital
- Witnesses claimed he was attacked by a gang who also hit him with hammer
Police have arrested four 14-year-olds after a schoolboy was stabbed in the back near a primary school in Essex.
Essex police confirmed that a girl and three boys were arrested after the attack near Briscoe Primary School in Pitsea today and all four remain in custody for questioning.
The boy, who is thought to be 12, was airlifted to hospital to be treated for stab wounds in his back.
Detective Inspector Stewart Eastbrook, of Essex police, said: ‘This was a nasty incident on a young boy and our officers were on scene quickly to carry out enquiries and a search of the area.
A schoolboy has been rushed to hospital after he was stabbed near a primary school in Essex after reportedly being attacked by a gang armed with a hammer
‘We are continuing to piece together information to establish the circumstances behind the incident and we believe those involved are known to each other.
‘Officers remain in the area speaking to witnesses and gathering information to help with our investigation, and we’d like to thank members of the public who have spoken to us already.
‘There were a number of people in the area at the time and we’d like to speak to anyone who saw what happened or has any mobile phone or CCTV footage that could help us with our enquiries.
‘I know this incident is very concerning for local residents and I would ask anyone with concerns or information to please speak to officers who are at the scene and on patrol in the area.’
Emergency workers rushed to the scene at around 2pm after the child was stabbed in an alleyway in a broad daylight attack.
An air ambulance landed in a nearby school playing field to rush the boy to the Royal London Hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Hi injuries were described as serious but not life-threatening.
Police have now placed a cordon across the alleyway on a residential street.
The boy, who is thought to be 12, was airlifted to hospital to be treated for stab wounds after the attack near Briscoe Primary School in Pitsea today
Witnesses claimed the boy had been attacked by a gang who also hit him with a hammer, the Braintree and Witham Times reported.
A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service said: ‘An ambulance, a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer vehicle and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance were called to an address in Pitsea following reports that a child had been stabbed.
‘One boy with stab wounds was transported by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital.’
Essex Police has been approached for comment.