Birmingham stabbing: Everything we know after boy, 12, dies during horror knife attack

West Midlands Police revealed the heartbreaking quality that Leo Ross had been walking location adjacent Scribers Lane successful Hall Green, Birmingham connected Tuesday day erstwhile helium was stabbed successful the stomach

A 12-year-old lad stabbed successful the tummy portion walking location successful Birmingham was "adored" by his friends - arsenic constabulary question a teen connected suspicion of his "tragic" murder.

West Midlands Police revealed the heartbreaking quality that Leo Ross had been walking location adjacent Scribers Lane successful Hall Green, Birmingham connected Tuesday day erstwhile helium was attacked. He was airlifted to infirmary but sadly pronounced dormant astatine astir 7.30pm.

The "funny and sweet" lad was a pupil astatine Christ Church C of E Secondary Academy and was a "lively and blessed young man" with "many precise bully friends", enforcement caput teacher Diane Henson said..

Friends of Leo held a peculiar assembly and said prayers for the tragic youngster. One affectional schoolhouse pal said: "He was a truly bully kid. He was nice, ever a bully kid. We had an assembly and we did a small worship astir Leo and however helium was benignant and each that stuff. And we prayed for him.

"He was a bully kid, he'd ever bash his work. He ever liked Science. And helium was truthful bully to everyone and was ever welcoming. These boys, his adjacent friends, told america what happened and helium got stabbed, and I was truly upset. Everyone was truly upset and teachers I cognize were truly upset too."

Where was the attack?

Leo's household said helium had been walking a 10-minute way location erstwhile the onslaught happened. The schoolboy was stabbed successful the tummy and recovered adjacent Scribers Lane successful the Hall Green country of Birmingham connected Tuesday day astatine astir 3.40pm. He was rapidly airlifted to infirmary but tragically died conscionable a fewer hours aboriginal astatine astir 7.30pm, according to West Midlands Police. Flowers were near astatine the country on with heartfelt messages. They work Leo was "loved by galore people" and "our lives won't beryllium the aforesaid without you".

Hall Green is fashionable section parkland which acts arsenic a portion of countryside for section residents successful southbound Birmingham. Many were successful daze yesterday and demanded much patrols from constabulary successful the country to chopped down connected anti societal behaviour. John Cotton, person of Birmingham City Council, described Tuesday's stabbing arsenic "shocking and senseless."

Who has been arrested?

A 14-year-old lad was arrested connected suspicion of murder. The teen, who cannot beryllium named for ineligible reasons, had besides been arrested successful transportation with an unrelated battle connected a pistillate successful her 80s connected January 19. The unit had launched an entreaty during which officers "urgently reviewed CCTV" and spoke to witnesses. Chief Superintendent Richard North, Birmingham Local Policing Area commander, said: "I would inquire the nationalist and the media not to speculate connected the motive of this incident, the probe is successful the aboriginal stages and we person idiosyncratic successful custody.

"I would impulse anyone who saw what happened, oregon who has CCTV, mobile telephone oregon dashcam footage from the country astatine the clip to get successful interaction with america arsenic soon arsenic imaginable to assistance america physique arsenic wide a representation arsenic possible. This is an appalling and senseless attack. We are doing everything we tin to enactment the loved ones of the young lad who mislaid his beingness successful specified an appalling way, but we cognize that thing we accidental oregon bash volition diminish their agony.

"Parents astir the state volition perceive this quality and beryllium incapable to comprehend the symptom they indispensable beryllium feeling. Our hearts spell retired to the young boy’s household today. We volition beryllium carrying retired reassurance patrols locally and if immoderate of the assemblage person immoderate accusation oregon concerns we would impulse them to travel forward.

"We proceed to enactment time successful time out, with parents, schools, carers and different partners to amended young radical connected weapon transgression and its devastating consequences. This enactment indispensable and volition continue. Today, our absorption is connected the household of the young lad who has mislaid his beingness successful specified a tragic way, and ensuring we get justness for him and his family." Police are continuing to entreaty for accusation from anyone who mightiness person seen what happened, particularly if you person photos, CCTV oregon dashcam footage from the clip the incidental happened soon aft 3pm yesterday.

Leo was the 'most beauteous child'

Relatives described Leo arsenic “the astir beautiful, benignant child” who “had not 1 assertive bony successful his body”. Executive Headteacher Diane Henson described his decease arsenic a "tragedy". She said this afternoon: "Leo was a lively and blessed young man. He had galore precise bully friends who helium perfectly adored, and they adored him. He was conscionable a beauteous and agleam subordinate of the schoolhouse community.

"We’re supporting the children astatine schoolhouse and are opening a publication of condolence with the family’s permission. Are thoughts are with Leo’s household and each his friends today."