Roads closed near Darlaston Swimming Pool as teen seriously injured in stabbing
A teenager is seriously injured in hospital after he was stabbed in a Black Country street.
The 16-year-old boy was left in a serious condition after he was attacked at around 6.30pm last night in The Flatts, a residential cul-de-sac in Darlaston.
The road, behind Darlaston Swimming Pool, was closed in the aftermath of the attack as were Richards Street and Victoria Road.
Large stretches of all three roads remain shut this morning.
Interactive map of the area:
Forensic officers have been examining the scene and officers are still in The Flatts and next to the swimming pool in Victoria Road.
A police floodlight and tent could be seen on the pavement next to a bicycle in front of a house in The Flatts this morning.
Nobody has been arrested.
A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: "Police have launched an investigation after a teenage boy suffered a stab injury after being attacked in Darlaston yesterday.
"The 16-year-old was taken to hospital in a serious condition after the attack which happened just before 6.30pm on The Flatts.
"The road has been closed at Richards Street and Victoria Road while forensic experts examine the scene.
"Detectives are asking for anyone who witnessed the attack or has any information to contact them via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, call 101 anytime or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
"Please quote log number 1987 of 07/01/2019."
One resident, who lives nearby and did not wished to be named, said: “It is just getting a bit mad isn’t it. I couldn’t believe it when I heard what had happened.
“I hope he recovers from this terrible incident.”
Another neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, said: “We did not hear anything at all last night, until the police came knocking on our door this morning.
“They told us they had ran off down Florian Grove but we did not see anything.”
Another, who was heading to Darlaston Swimming Pool on Tuesday morning, added: “It was the first I heard about it this morning when I tried to get to the centre and the roads are all closed.
“It’s just terrible.”
Reporter Dayna Farrington is at the scene:
Another resident, who lives off Richards Street, said: “We went out early this morning and saw the police cordon - that was the first we heard about.
“It’s a bit worrying when you have a teenager yourself.
“I really feel for the boy’s family to think what has happened, I hope he recovers. It’s such a shame.”
A West Midlands Ambulance spokeswoman said: "We were called just before 6.30pm to reports of an assault on The Flatts in Darlaston.
"Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the West Midlands Care Team treated a male for serious injuries.
"He was given trauma care on the scene and was taken to a trauma hospital."
Darlaston Councillor Doug James added: “My thoughts are with the young victim who is in hospital after this dreadful attack.
“I want to reassure the community that Darlaston does not have a knife problem - this was a criminal attack by an individual.
“I want to thank the emergency services, hospital teams and police for their response. I was alerted to the incident during full council last night and went to the scene following the meeting. Police had established a cordon to reassure local people. The matter was handled very professionally.
“This is an unfortunate incident.”
