Coventry stabbing: 'Good progress' in hunt for killers

Detectives are doing "everything in their power" to find the killers of a 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Coventry, police have said.

The victim was found on grassland off Petitor Crescent, Wood End, by a member of the public at about 19:00 GMT on Wednesday.

West Midlands Police said it had made "good progress" in interviewing witnesses and reviewing CCTV footage.

Ch Supt Mike O'Hara described the killing as "appalling and saddening".

The force said it introduced stop and search powers in the Wood End area from 17:00 GMT on Thursday to run until 02:00 GMT on Friday in response to the stabbing.

The section 60 powers mean officers can stop and search individuals "without the need to show reasonable grounds".

Police are keen to understand the motive for what happened and are urging anyone who may have seen disorder or people running from the scene to get in touch.

The boy suffered multiple stab wounds to his torso and died where he was found, officers said.

He has not been named by police as not all his family are aware of his death.

Mr O'Hara said: "When the victim is of school age it's all the more appalling and saddening.

"We will do everything in our power to ensure the killers are caught and face justice."

The scene remains sealed off while a detailed search is carried out.

According to latest figures, in the year ending September 2019 there were 3,649 offences involving knives in the West Midlands Police force area.

This is up 17% on the year before when there were 3,108. A total of 21 were homicides and 42 attempted murders.

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