Four teenagers have been apprehended in connection with a homicide inquiry after a 16-year-old male was fatally stabbed close to a shopping precinct in Peterborough.
Law enforcement received a distress call just before 7 pm yesterday (Sunday, April 12) regarding an assault on a teenager in Riseholme, near the Ortongate Shopping Centre. Responders, including medical personnel, rushed to the scene, and the victim was transported to a medical facility but tragically succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
A police perimeter has been set up at the Orton Centre as authorities conduct their investigation, as reported by Cambridgeshire Live.
In a statement, the police disclosed, “Four individuals have been detained following the tragic stabbing of a 16-year-old boy in Peterborough. The incident was reported to police just before 7 pm yesterday (Sunday, April 12) concerning an assault on the teenager in Riseholme, near the Orton Centre.
“Emergency services, including paramedics, responded to the scene, and the victim was taken to the hospital, where he later passed away. Detectives are treating the death as a homicide, and two individuals from Peterborough – a 15-year-old male and an 18-year-old male – are in custody on suspicion of murder.
“A 17-year-old female from Peterborough has been arrested on suspicion of aiding an offender, and a 16-year-old female from March has been detained on suspicion of aiding an offender and possession of a bladed item. All are currently being held at Thorpe Wood Police Station.
“The vicinity around the Orton Centre has been cordoned off to facilitate police investigations, with an increased law enforcement presence anticipated in the area in the forthcoming days.”
DCI Richard Stott, from the Beds, Cambs, and Herts Major Crime Unit, affirmed that authorities do not believe the incident was a random assault and urged anyone with relevant information or CCTV footage to come forward.
Stott stated, “This is a tragic occurrence resulting in the loss of a young individual, and we are liaising with the victim’s family to provide updates.
“While we understand the apprehension this incident may cause in the local community, we have reason to believe it was not a random attack, and heightened police presence will be maintained in the area in the days ahead.
“I encourage anyone with information regarding the incident or possessing home CCTV in the area to contact the police.”
Individuals with information are urged to reach out to the authorities via the website www.cambs.police.uk/report, utilizing the web chat function, or by dialing 101, quoting Operation Whitby or incident 373 of Sunday, April 12.
