News / Crime
Murder of two boys leaves community in shock
Two boys aged 15 and 16 were stabbed on Saturday night leaving a close-knit south Bristol community in shock.
The incident happened at around 11.20pm on Ilminster Avenue in Knowle West, when the boys were attacked by a number of people who escaped in a car.
The younger teenager was taken to the Children’s Hospital and the older boy to Southmead but they sadly both died in the early hours of Sunday morning.
is needed now More than ever
Police immediately launched a murder investigation and a 44-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were quickly arrested.
But more suspects are still being sought within the group that carried out the attack, with the police also trying to trace any passengers on a double-decker bus that remained within the cordon on Ilminster Avenue throughout Sunday.
Forensics teams were investigating the area of Ilminster Avenue between Tavistock Road and Newquay Road, with officers also conducting house-to-house enquiries on nearby streets.
Bristol police commander, superintendent Mark Runacres, called the attack “reprehensible”.
Runacres said: “I would like to reassure people that we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to catch those responsible for this reprehensible attack and provide answers to the victims’ families…
“An incident like this is horrific in nature. It causes real distress and upset to all within the community and we’ll be working hard – I’ve spoken to the mayor already today about what we can do in response to this – to make sure that the local community are supported as well as the families of those who tragically lost their lives.”
The superintendent added: “I’d like to sympathise with the community for what they’ve suffered and the families at the heart of that…
“It makes me feel deeply upset, frustrated that offences like this will take place anywhere.
“It’s demoralising but it makes me determined to support the community, it makes me determined to work with the team of police officers that we have committed to this to identify those and bring them to justice.”
A double-decker bus remained within the police cordon on Sunday – photo: Martin Booth
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said that the incident was a “further tragic loss of life in our city”.
He said: I’m thinking of the victims and their families, going through a pain that no parent should have to experience
“We will do all we can to support the families and the local community, working with the police.”
England and Bristol Bears rugby player Ellis Genge, who grew up in Knowle West, tweeted: “My thoughts are with the families affected by this tragic incident.
“I went to nursery at illminster avenue and although I know what the west is like, it still shocks you to see news like this.
“Kids in these communities need more support and help to be kept away from violence.”
Main photo & video: Martin Booth
Read next:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
