Two teenagers stabbed outside same Smethwick shopping centre where Karl Gallagher was knifed to death
Two teenage boys have been stabbed outside the same Smethwick shopping centre where a man was knifed to death less than two months ago.
The boys, aged 16 and 17, were stabbed in an incident at West Cross Shopping Centre this afternoon where a 14-year-old boy was also injured.
The attack happened shortly after midday in the same car park off Oldbury Road where Karl Gallagher was murdered in April.
The stabbing was at least the sixth serious knife attack in the Black Country in the past week, following on from stabbings in Halesowen, Upper Gornal, Walsall, Brierley Hill and Great Barr where a man was killed.
Week of Black Country knife attacks
Wednesday June 17, Halesowen: Youth attacked with knife and machete
Saturday June 20, Upper Gornal: Two men stabbed, one in street and one in house
Sunday June 21, Great Barr: Man stabbed to death on Great Barr street
Sunday June 21, Walsall: Woman attacked with a knife on town centre street
Monday June 22, Brierley Hill: Driver dragged from car and stabbed multiple times
Wednesday, June 24, Smethwick: Two teenagers stabbed at scene of previous murder
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "Officers were called to reports of a stabbing at West Cross Shopping Centre, Smethwick at around 12.15pm today.
"A 17-year-old suffered stab wounds to his back while a 16-year-old received stab wounds to his arm.
"A 14-year-old was also taken to hospital with facial injuries.
"All three were taken to hospital in a stable condition."
The area was cordoned off in the aftermath of the attack.
Community activist Rizwan Jalil said: "Unfortunately it's become a regular thing in the area now and it seriously needs to be looked into by the authorities.
"It is causing tensions, distrust and lack of confidence within the neighbourhood."
Mr Jalil added: "The local community want to live safely and without the fear of crime, recognising that it is only a small minority of individuals who bring havoc and misery to their daily lives.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."
West Midlands Ambulance Service sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care car to the scene.
Spokeswoman Jordan Eggington said: "We treated two teenage boys for injuries not believed to be life threatening before taking them on blue lights to hospital for further treatment."
On April 26 Mr Gallagher died from a single stab wound to the chest after being knifed at the shopping centre.
The 31-year-old, who was from Smethwick and had one daughter, was one of four people stabbed in three West Midlands knife attacks in the space of 30 hours.
Tyrell Harris, 19, pleaded not guilty to murder at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday afternoon.
Harris, of Helvellyn Way, in West Bromwich, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and to enter his plea.
A trial, which could last up to two weeks, has been set for October 26.
Three other men arrested on suspicion of murder have been released on bail while the investigation continues.
Three men arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender have also been released pending investigation, as has a man arrested on suspicion of obstructing police.
