POLICE APPEAL AFTER CITY CENTRE STABBING

A POLICE investigation has been launched after a teenager was stabbed in the chest in Coventry city centre on Friday night.

Witnesses have been spoken to following the stabbing, which happened in Cross Cheaping shortly after 8pm on November 22, but police are keen for any other witnesses, or anyone with information, to come forward.

They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have any mobile phone footage of the incident.

Police were called to the McDonald’s restaurant on Cross Cheaping shortly before 8.15pm, following reports of disorder outside the restaurant which had then spilled inside.

The McDonald’s restaurant was closed on Saturday morning following the incident and remained closed into the afternoon.

A 17-year-old was stabbed in the chest during the incident.

The boy is not believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries, although he was taken to hospital.

Police remained at the scene on Saturday morning and the area of pavement outside the McDonald’s restaurant was sealed off with incident tape.

A bicycle, with a buckled wheel, could be seen flat on the pavement behind the sealed off scene, next to one of the restaurant windows.

The restaurant remained closed and in darkness on Saturday morning, though staff could be seen working in the kitchen area.

A police spokesman said: “An investigation has been launched after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed in Coventry city centre.

“We were called to McDonald’s on Cross Cheaping just before 8.15pm yesterday (Friday).

“It is believed disorder involving a number of youths outside the restaurant spilled inside.”

The spokesman added: “The victim was taken to hospital to be treated for a stab wound to the chest, but the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

“The investigation is at an early stage, but CCTV is being examined and a number of witnesses have already been spoken to.”

A McDonald’s spokesman said: “We can confirm that an incident took place on Friday evening outside the restaurant, resulting in the police being called and the restaurant being closed.

“The safety and security of our customers and people is our absolute priority, and we are supporting those who were working at the time.”

Anyone with information, or who may have video footage of what happened, has been asked to get in touch with West Midlands Police via Live Chat here , or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.