The 14-year-old teenager held after a 12-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Birmingham is also being held over an attack on a woman in her 80s, police said.
The 14-year-old boy is believed to have carried out the attack in the same Hall Green area of the city on Sunday.
A 12-year-old boy, who has not been named, was found with serious injuries near Scribers Lane in Hall Green shortly after 3pm yesterday.
Emergency services were called at 3.44pm and the boy was taken to hospital with stab wounds to the stomach, but later died.
Chief Inspector Richard North told a press conference today that a member of the public tried to help the boy at the scene before emergency services arrived.
He said a passerby had tried to render aid amid the 'chaotic and absolutely traumatic scene', adding: 'Sadly he lost his life later that day, despite the best efforts of police officers and paramedics who treated him at the scene. around 7:30 p.m.'
Mr North told reporters: 'As a result of urgent investigations, a boy aged 14 has been arrested. This happened yesterday at 7pm at an address in Birmingham.
'He is still in custody and has been arrested on suspicion of murder. The same 14-year-old has also been arrested for another attack, in an unrelated case. He is also in prison for that.'
A 14-year-old boy arrested over a fatal stabbing is also being held over an attack on a pensioner, police said today
Flowers have been laid at the site near Scribers Lane in Birmingham's Hall Green area
A 12-year-old boy was stabbed near a primary school in Birmingham on Tuesday
Appealing for witnesses and information about the fatal stabbing, Mr North said: “This is an absolutely horrific incident. We have specialist detectives working on the investigation, but also supporting the loved ones of the 12-year-old who lost his life in a very, very sad and tragic way.”
The officer said: 'I would ask the public not to speculate about what happened – this is a very early stage of the investigation. It is clear that we are dealing with it with enormous priority.
“Detectives are working around the clock to uncover the truth about what happened.”
He added: 'What I would urge is that anyone who was in the area of Scribers Lane at around that time – the incident happened at 3.40pm – to contact us and let us know where they were, if they notice anything unusual seen or suspected.
'We have set up a public portal for major incidents, which can be found on our website. People can find that and upload information directly to it. It could be CCTV footage they have, phone footage or dashcam footage.”
In a written statement to BBC News, a member of the victim's family described him as “the prettiest, kindest child” and “the nicest child you would meet.”
The relative added that the boy was “funny and sweet and didn't have an aggressive bone in his body,” and that he had walked a 10-minute route home.
A citizen leaves flowers at the crime scene on Wednesday morning
Chief Inspector Richard North speaks to the media at the scene near Scribers Lane in the Hall Green area of Birmingham
Police have cordoned off several entrances to the Shire Country Park, including part of the Cole River.
Residents living near a riverside path leading to a wooded part of the park said they were shocked to discover the victim's age and that he had died from his injuries.
One resident, who declined to give her name, said a resident knocked on her door shortly after 3pm on Tuesday and asked for the area's zip code so emergency services could arrive.
She told reporters: “The first thing I knew was a gentleman came and asked for the postcode because someone had been injured. He just came and knocked on the door.
“We had two police cars and then a helicopter. “I found out someone had been stabbed last night, but it wasn't until this morning that I realized the poor little soul had died.”
Another woman, who said her son was in the same school class as the 12-year-old who died, said she thought the victim was walking home through the park.
Some areas of the park where the attack took place, close to Trittiford Mill swimming pool, have been plagued by anti-social behavior in the past involving local youths, some riding quad bikes, a resident claimed.
“It happens every week,” the woman said. 'It is a shortcut for school children before and after school, but sometimes people hang around a car.'
When asked about the people involved, Chf Supt North added: “The only thing we are going to confirm is that it is a 12-year-old boy and we are investigating that.
A police officer at the scene at Scribers Lane in the Hall Green area of Birmingham where a 12-year-old boy was stabbed
The boy was attacked yesterday near Scribers Lane in Hall Green, Birmingham
West Midlands Police are holding a crime scene on Scribers Lane in the Hall Green area
'We are of course working with his loved ones, his caregivers and his family. As we progress, we may be able to release more information.
“But at this stage we are working with them.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'We were called at 3.31pm yesterday to reports of a stabbing on Scribers Park Lane.
'One ambulance, a paramedic and a MERIT trauma doctor with a critical care paramedic arrived on scene. Upon arrival we found one patient, a boy.
“Ambulance crews provided emergency treatment at the scene before the boy was taken to hospital.”
The Birmingham school the 12-year-old attended has shared its “condolences and deepest condolences” following the tragedy.
Christ Church, Church of England Secondary Academy in Yardley Wood shared a statement on its website on Tuesday following the death of a 12-year-old pupil near Scribers Lane in Hall Green.
The statement said: “Our condolences and deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of one of our CCSA students.
After the stabbing, police continued to investigate the crime scene on Wednesday
A police dog handler was spotted at the scene of the fatal stabbing this morning
'This is a very sad time for our school community and we are focused on supporting our students, staff and families with professional support.
“As this is a live police investigation, we cannot share any further details with you.
'At this difficult time we would advise parents and guardians not to contact the school office unless it is an emergency.'
The fatal stabbing happened on the day MPs were told after the Southport murders that a ban on the sale of knives to under-18s has proven ineffective.
The sale of fixed-blade knives more than two inches long to under-18s is illegal in England and Wales, with retailers facing fines or prosecution if they break the law.
But Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has revealed that Southport killer Axel Rudakubana 'could easily order a knife on Amazon' when he was still 17 years old and convicted of violence.
She told MPs: “That is a total disgrace and it needs to change. That is why we will be taking stronger action to tackle online knife sales in the Crime and Policing Bill this spring.”
Police are asking anyone with information to use the public major incident portal or call 101 quoting log 3324 of January 21.
