Eight held for murder as two teens ‘knifed to death’
Boys believed to be as young as 13 are killed and a third injured in Essex street
EIGHT people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after two teenage boys – believed to be as young as 13 – were ‘stabbed to death’ yesterday.
The victims, named locally as Charlie and Frankie, were found injured by police at about 1.30am. Paramedics battled to save them but they died from their wounds. A third person was treated for non-life threatening injuries at the scene in Brentwood, Essex.
Yesterday police refused to disclose the nature of the attack, but a source told the Daily Mail: ‘My understanding is they were stabbed to death.
‘The victims were very young teenagers who had travelled from Romford. It’s not clear what two teenagers who were so young were doing away from home at this time. Police are also looking at an earlier incident on the night which they think could be related. It looks like there were two groups, one quite a bit older. I believe those arrested are around 18.’
Essex Police refused to disclose the ages of the eight people they have arrested on suspicion of murder. The suspects remained in custody last night.
Neighbours described hearing shouts and someone ‘yelling out in pain’ before police were called to Regency Court, a residential street near the centre of Brentwood.
Mark MacIntosh had only just arrived home when he heard shouting and screaming coming from the nearby residence.
He said he paced around his flat wondering what he should do. ‘Now as I reflect I realise that what I heard was somebody yelling out in pain who may have lost his life shortly thereafter,’ he said.
Ashley White, 32, who also lives nearby and heard the attack, tweeted afterwards: ‘Disgusting and so sad. I keep hearing the
‘I keep hearing the screams’
screams for an ambulance in my head just can’t believe it. To everyone in Brentwood, Essex and surrounding area, please stay safe.’
Family and friends yesterday visited where the boys were killed and a teenage girl was seen bursting into tears as she laid flowers.
One tribute read: ‘Words can’t describe the hurt that we feel right now. Never forgotten, always remembered. Love you boys to bits.’ Another wrote on social media ‘rest in peace’ to his friend’s ‘baby’ who was ‘stabbed to death’, adding: ‘Sad world’.
A large cordon remained in place throughout the day as forensics officers scoured the area.
Chief Inspector Mark Barber said officers were open-minded about what happened, adding that investigations so far suggested it was an isolated incident. He said: ‘This has required an immediate and a largescale response and officers and investigators have worked through the night to piece together what happened in the lead-up to this tragic incident.
‘We understand there will naturally be shock and concern within the community after such a tragic loss of life, but at this stage we do not believe there is any wider threat to the public.
‘We know there were a number of witnesses to this incident and I would urge anyone who saw anything in Regency Court and the roads around it in central Brentwood between 1am and 2am to come forward and speak to us.’
An Essex Police spokesman said the families of the boys were being supported by specialist officers and post-mortem examinations would be carried out.