Leamington Spa stabbing: One man dead and another seriously injured after knife attack

15 January 2020, 15:36 | Updated: 15 January 2020, 17:28

One man has died and another is seriously injured after a double stabbing in Leamington Spa.

Officers rushed to the scene on Tachbrook Road in the leafy town at 11am on Wednesday.

The first victim was confirmed dead at the scene, while the second was rushed to a nearby hospital’s major trauma centre.

Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and an air ambulance crew all attended the scene.

The road remains closed, while investigations continue, with police also checking CCTV at a nearby shop.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a stabbing involving two people on Tachbrook Road in Leamington Spa at 10.58am this morning.

In a statement, Chief Superintendent Ben Smith of Warwickshire Police said: "We received a call at around 11am this morning reporting that two men had been stabbed on Tachbrook Road in Leamington Spa.

"Emergency services attended and sadly, one of the victims, a young male, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

"The second victim, also a young male, was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

"A murder investigation has therefore been launched and we are working hard to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident."

He added: "We understand this will be concerning to the local community and want to reassure the public that we are treating this as an isolated incident at this time, as we believe this was a targeted attack with no ongoing risk to the wider public."

He said: "We have arrested a 33-year-old man from Leamington on suspicion of murder and he remains in police custody at this time.

"Officers are also trying to locate another suspect believed to be involved in this incident who was last seen at around 11.30am on Emscote Road at the junction with Fosberry Close in Warwick.

"He is described as a young black male and is believed to have sustained an injury to his leg.

"If you think you may have seen this man I would urge you to call us immediately on 101."

"Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance attended the scene.

"Ambulance staff arrived to find two patients, both men, who had sustained serious injuries.

"Despite the best efforts of ambulance staff, one man was sadly confirmed deceased on scene.

"A second man received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff before being taken by land ambulance on blue lights to a major trauma centre for further emergency care."

Warwickshire Police added: "We are responding to a report of two people being stabbed in Tachbrook Road, Leamington Spa.

"One male has been declared dead at the scene and another taken to hospital."

Local resident Shauna Reilly walks her children to nursery via Tachbrook Road and said the route was shut by police following the stabbing.

"It's very worrying, things like this have happened too many times recently," said the 29-year-old.

"Scares the hell out of me. Hate my children being around all this horrible stuff."

Another resident, who declined to be named, said the area seemed to be quiet but that the latest events had left him feeling "scared".