Brierley Hill stabbing: Murder probe launched after man knifed to death in town centre

The man, thought to be aged 24, is believed to have been knifed in the stomach outside the Dixi Chicken takeaway on Brierley Hill High Street on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency services, including the Midlands Air Ambulance which landed at a football pitch on nearby Hillcrest Avenue, were called at around 4.45pm and the man was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but he was later pronounced dead. Specially-trained police officers are supporting the man's family.

West Midlands Police believe the victim was targeted and are treating his death as murder, but no arrests have been reported.

The High Street remains cordoned off while officers scour the area for evidence while a blue police tent has been put up next to a nearby Chinese takeaway. Detectives are also investigating a scene in a nearby wooded area.

A worker at the Dixi takeaway described how an injured man came into the store asking for help.

Ahmad Sherzad, 20, said: "He had a hand to his waist and blood was coming out.

"He came up to counter and said 'help me' before fainting.

"I went outside and called the ambulance."

Detective Inspector Jim Munro, from West Midlands Police, said: "Clearly it is early days in the investigation but we strongly suspect this was a targeted attack and that the two people involved may have known each other.

"We have spoken to some witnesses already but I'm sure there are many more people who saw what happened, or saw the offender running away, and have not yet spoken to police."

The attack is the third stabbing in eight days in the Dudley borough.

A 22-year-old man was stabbed in Lower Gornal last Saturday before an 18-year-old man was critically injured in a stabbing on Sedgley high street on Sunday.

Three 15-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion of assault in relation to the attack in Lower Gornal while a 14-year-old boy was charged with wounding with intent after the Sedgley incident.

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old was charged with Section 18 wounding after an alleged stabbing on a bus in West Bromwich on Tuesday.

Anyone with information should contact West Midlands Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.