28 January 2023 , 12:38
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A teenage boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 15-year-old girl was stabbed to death in Northumberland.
Police rushed to a report of two people being injured in Hexham town centre shortly after 5.10pm yesterday.
Emergency services attended where a boy and girl - aged 16 and 15 respectively - suffered serious injuries "consistent with having been caused by a bladed article".
They were both taken to hospital, where the girl died later that evening. The boy suffered serious, non-life-threatening injuries.
Another 16-year-old boy was initially arrested on suspicion of assault, and later on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody.
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All those involved are believed to be known to each other, said Northumbria Police.
A police search squad arrived in Hexham this morning following last night's double stabbing (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)The force said: "A teenage girl has sadly died, leaving her family completely devastated beyond words. Another boy has also been seriously injured.
"Our thoughts are very much with their loved ones at this awful time, and we are supporting them in every way we can.
"We are determined to find out exactly what happened and bring anyone involved to justice. A full investigation is ongoing into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
Police forensics team at the scene this morning (chroniclelive)"We have arrested a teenager in relation to the incident and officers remain in the area to carry out a range of enquiries and offer reassurance to the community.
"While our investigation is at an early stage, we do believe all those involved are known to each other."
Pictures taken at the scene today show that a police cordon is still in place.
A police cordon was put in place at the crime scene (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)Touching floral tributes have also been laid at the scene, with a note attached to one reading: "To our baby Holly, our hearts hurt so much right now. We love you so much."
The force added: "We would like to thank the public for their continued support and cooperation and would ask people not to speculate on details of the investigation.
"What might seem like an innocent post on social media to you, could disrupt an ongoing investigation and cause further upset to the family of the victims."
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Guy Opperman, MP for Hexham, said he is "horrified that such a tragic incident" has taken place in the town.
He added: "My thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with the families of those involved."
Derek Kennedy, mayor of Hexham, said: "It's an absolute tragedy, the town is in complete shock, to lose one of our children who attends a local high school is just horrendous.
A 15-year-old girl was killed and a 16-year-old boy is in hospital (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)"Parents are really anxious for the health of their children because they're all a part of this community, the schools are all really anxious that their children are really feeling the pain and suffering and shock of such an awful incident.
"In the Hexham community we have a very low crime rate, generally, it's a community that looks after one another, we were awarded the happiest place to live in Great Britain last year.
"It's a very warm and loving community so for a tragedy such as this to happen, we always find it much more difficult and it's knocked everyone for six.
The mayor of Hexham described the incident as an "absolute tragedy" (chroniclelive)"To happen to such a young person and the alleged perpetrator to be a young person, in the high street at 5pm, is just shocking, everyone is just shocked and struggling to come to terms with it, it will ruin so many lives."
At a press briefing, Chief Superintendent Sam Rennison, Area Commander for Northumberland and North Tyneside, said that, although the investigation is in the very early stages, police believe all those involved are known to each other.
The Chief Superintendent confirmed that a murder investigation has been launched following the death of a 15-year-old girl.
A 16-year-old boy, who was also injured during the incident, remains in hospital in a stable condition.
All those involved are believed to be known to each other, said Northumbria Police (chroniclelive)A 16-year-old boy initially arrested on suspicion of assault has now been arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody.
Chief Superintendent Rennison said: "We are determined to find out exactly what happened yesterday and bring anyone involved to justice.
"We recognise the impact that these incidents can have within communities and our officers will remain in the area to carry out a range of inquiries."
Pictures taken at the scene today show that a police cordon is still in place (chroniclelive)When asked what impact the incident has had on the families, Chief Superintendent Rennison said: "This is a devastating time for the families of these young people and what is really important is we continue to provide that specialist support and advice from our specially trained officers to make sure that they get through the coming days, weeks and months."
The police chief said they were treating it as an isolated incident.
"We do not believe there is any further, wider risk to the community or anybody else," she said.
"We are absolutely treating this as an isolated incident with those involved, we believe, were known to each other."
A police search squad in Hexham, Northumberland this morning (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)Chief Superintendent Rennison also sent a message to the people of Hexham.
She said: "To the people of Hexham, we will continue to be visible in your communities. We will continue to support you.
"The actions of those residents in the town centre yesterday just shows how tight and supportive the community are In times of tragedy.
"We will continue to work with you and we will be visible to offer that reassurance over the coming days."
Police described the weapon as a 'bladed article' (chroniclelive)No further details have been given about the type of weapon which was allegedly used during the incident.
Police have described it as a "bladed article".
Anyone with information is urged to contact police via their website or by calling 101 quoting log NP-20230127-0795.