A 15-year-old boy has been stabbed to death ‘outside Nando’s before being dragged more than 50ft through shopping centre’, with detectives hunting for the knifeman.
Emergency services rushed to New Square shopping centre in West Bromwich town centre after the teenager was attacked at around 9.15pm yesterday.
The boy, who has not been named, sadly died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics.
Reports from bystanders have suggested that the teenager was stabbed outside the Nando’s restaurant at the shopping centre before being dragged to a Costa Coffee at the same site.
West Bromwich local Epsi lives around the corner and was visiting her local bank branch when she stumbled upon the scene.
A 15-year-old boy has been stabbed to death at a shopping centre, with detectives hunting for the knifeman (pictured: the scene today)
Emergency services rushed to New Square shopping centre in West Bromwich town centre after the teenager was attacked at around 9.15pm yesterday
The boy, who has not been named, sadly died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics
She said: ‘I know they got killed outside Nando’s. I know it was Nando’s.
‘It’s awful. Nando’s probably wouldn’t have been open at that time.
‘We usually don’t get stabbings, it’s usually Walsall. The only trouble we get is outside this pub.
‘I heard he was dragged and that’s why all this is blocked off. He was dragged from where he got stabbed.’
West Midlands Police has launched a murder investigation and urged any witnesses or anyone with information to get in touch with the force.
A blue forensics tent could be seen erected in the area, near to an Odeon cinema, Costa Coffee and a now-closed Harvester pub.
The shopping centre confirmed it remained ‘fully closed’ today following the schoolboy’s murder with the scene fully sealed off and forensic teams making visits to the site.
‘An incident took place last night at New Square,’ it wrote on its Facebook page.
‘Due to this, the shopping centre is currently fully closed.
A blue forensics tent could be seen erected in the area, near to an Odeon cinema, Costa Coffee and a now-closed Harvester pub
West Midlands Police has launched a murder investigation and urged any witnesses or anyone with information to get in touch with the force
‘We are now assisting West Midlands Police in their investigations and will give further updates, once we are able, regarding the reopening of the centre.
‘Thank you to all our customers for their patience and cooperation.’
Locals have expressed their shock at the ‘tragic’ stabbing in the town centre.
Pete, a local, said he had tried to get to a big Tesco nearby before being diverted.
He said: ‘I’ve heard it happened outside the Nando’s up there. Someone told me it was at the Nando’s.
‘Kids don’t hang around there often, but I’m older so don’t go out late.’
Another woman near the scene said: ‘It’s awful to hear what happened.
‘I’ve lived here for like 10 years now and it doesn’t happen here. We don’t get it here, it’s not right. It’s a waste of a life.’
A worker at nearby Paper Boys newsagents said the area is usually quiet at night, especially on a Sunday.
‘It’s an awkward time. We close early on a Sunday. We close here about 7pm. But when we close it’s emptyish really.
‘On a school day or a college day, it’s really empty. I’m not sure Nando’s would be open.’
Another passerby said: ‘It’s truly tragic. We didn’t know anything had happened until I saw the police tape.
‘They were so young too. It breaks your heart.’
MailOnline has approached Nando’s for comment.
Detective Chief Inspector Laura Harrison said: ‘It is a tragedy that yet another young life has been lost as a result knife crime.
‘Our immediate thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends.
‘We’re at the early stages of our enquiries but we have detectives working hard to identify those responsible and bring them into custody as soon as possible.
The horrific incident comes amid a sharp increase in knife attacks across the West Midlands
The £200million New Square development opened in 2013 covering 473,000 square feet and includes shops, bars, restaurants, a cinema and other leisure facilities
‘There are several lines of enquiry that we will be following, but we also need people to come forward with information.
‘We’ll be increasing patrols and offering reassurance to the community over the coming days.’
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called to reports of a stabbing at New Square at 9.13pm, two ambulances, two paramedic officer, a MERIT trauma doctor with a critical care paramedic and the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car attended the scene.
‘On arrival we discovered one patient, a teenage male, who was in a critical condition.
‘Ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life support but sadly, it became apparent nothing could be done to save the patient and he was confirmed dead at the scene.’
The £200million New Square development opened in 2013 covering 473,000 square feet and includes shops, bars, restaurants, a cinema and other leisure facilities.
The horrific incident comes amid a sharp increase in knife attacks across the West Midlands.
Between March 2022 and March 2023, knife crime in the area rose by 16 per cent to 5,188 incidents.
The sudden jump in offences meant the local authority had the second most in the country, behind only the Metropolitan Police.
In Greater Manchester, there were 3,197 knife attacks across the same time period.
Between March 2022 and March 2023, knife crime in the area rose by 16 per cent to 5,188 incidents
According to the Office for National Statistics, the West Midlands has 178 offences per 100,000 people, the most number of any area in the UK
According to the Office for National Statistics, the West Midlands has 178 offences per 100,000 people, the most number of any area in the UK.
In 2021, two police officers were stabbed and slashed at the New Square shopping centre by knife-wielding brothers Parminder and Maninder Hunjan, who were later jailed.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police via Live Chat or 101, quoting log 3772 of April 7 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
