Teenagers charged over first of three stabbings in 30 hours
Two teenagers have been charged with attempted murder after a boy was stabbed in the back on Sunday afternoon.
The stabbing in Solihull was one of two violent attacks inside two hours in the West Midlands on Sunday.
Two teenagers were injured in the attack in Chapelhouse Road, a 19-year-old and 16-year-old who suffered a serious knife wound in the back.
The 16-year-old was initially in a critical condition and remains in hospital but is now said to be stable.
One man was arrested at the scene while another was arrested later at his home address.
Timeline of knife attacks
Sunday, 2.40pm: Two teenagers injured in Solihull stabbing. One, a 16-year-old boy, is left critical after being knifed in the back. A 19-year-old man is also taken to hospital.
Sunday, 4.40pm: Karl Gallagher murdered in Smethwick. Mr Gallagher, 31, is pronounced dead at West Cross Shopping Centre after being knifed in front of shoppers. Police and family members urge the public not to share shocking video footage of the attack which is posted online.
Monday, 6pm: Man knifed at Smethwick petrol station. A man is slashed in the arm on a petrol station forecourt 100 yards away from where Mr Gallagher was killed. Armed police surround and raid a house on nearby St Paul's Road.
West Midlands Police charged Tobias Hollingsworth, 18, and Connor Sheedy, 19, with attempted murder and grievous bodily harm on Monday night.
Hollingsworth, of Kinghurst Way, and Sheedy, of Schofield Road, both in Kingshurst, were due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court today.
A 14-year-old boy, from Kingshurst, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also arrested in connection with the violence. He has been bailed to return for further questioning by police next month.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Our enquiries continue and anyone with information is asked to contact us."
The attack was the first of three stabbing incidents in the West Midlands inside 30 hours.
Two hours later Karl Gallagher was murdered in Smethwick and on Monday evening another man was knifed in Smethwick around 100 yards away from the murder scene.
Anyone with information is urged to call West Midlands Police on 101, quoting incident number 2087 of April 26. Alternatively, witnesses can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
