Girl, 15, stabbed to death in Northumberland as boy, 16, 'who was known to her' arrested on suspicion of murder
28 January 2023, 12:27 | Updated: 28 January 2023, 13:14
A 15-year-old girl has been stabbed to death in Northumberland as a 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Police were called to the Priestpopple area of Hexham when paramedics alerted them to a report of an injured teenage boy and girl just after 5pm on Friday.
They had both suffered "serious injuries" consistent with being stabbed, Northumbria Police said.
They were both taken to hospital, where the girl died later in the day.
The boy has suffered non-life threatening injuries and is still in hospital.
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder, having already been arrested on suspicion of assault.
Both the victims' families are being helped by specialist officers.
#UPDATE A murder investigation has been launched after a 15-year-old girl tragically died following a suspected assault in #Hexham.
— Northumbria Police (@northumbriapol) January 28, 2023
Shortly after 5.10pm on Friday police were alerted by ambulance service to a report of a teenage boy & girl injured in the Priestpopple area
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"Our thoughts are with all loved ones at this awful time, and we are supporting them in every way we can," the force said.
"We are determined to find out what happened & bring anyone involved to justice.
"Officers are in the area to carry out enquiries & offer reassurance.
"We believe those involved are known to each other & would ask people not to speculate. Any info call 101 NP-20230127-0795."
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.
"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.
"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."
