A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a 17-year-old was fatally stabbed in a Luton park on Friday evening, as police said a number of teenagers were seen carrying large knives.
Officers were called to reports of violent disorder at Kingsway Recreation Ground at about 18:30, where the victim – who has not been identified – suffered multiple stab wounds. He was taken to hospital but pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
“A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder after a 17-year-old was fatally stabbed in a Luton park on Friday.”
Bedfordshire Police said the 16-year-old, who was initially arrested on suspicion of violent disorder before being rearrested on suspicion of murder, has now been charged and remanded in custody.
A 17-year-old boy also arrested on Friday on suspicion of murder is being treated in hospital for serious injuries and remains in police custody, the force said.
Three further teenage boys, all aged 17, have been arrested on suspicion of murder, violent disorder and carrying a weapon, with two of them picked up on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardener appealed for witnesses and urged the public not to share distressing videos online. “Our officers are continuing to carry out additional high-visibility patrols, and we are continuing to engage with local members of the public,” he said. “We would also like to remind the public not to share any distressing videos or images as this can be concerning for families involved, but also form a vital part of the police investigation.”
Zanib Raja, a councillor for the Biscot Ward, described the attack as a “tragic incident” in a Facebook post. “A place that should be safe for families, children, and every resident of our town. Instead, a man lost his life in broad daylight. A family has been shattered. Luton is hurting,” she wrote.
The investigation, codenamed Operation Crownbeacon, continues as police appeal for anyone who witnessed the disorder or the events leading up to it to come forward.
