13-YEAR-OLD BOY AIRLIFTED TO HOSPITAL AFTER STABBING ON EASTBOURNE SEAFRONT AS FIVE ARRESTED

A 13-year-old boy was airlifted to hospital after being stabbed near a busy UK seafront, prompting an urgent police investigation and the arrest of five people.

The teenager was injured during an incident on Grand Parade in Eastbourne, East Sussex, on Sunday afternoon, September 20.

Police were called at around 5:10 p.m. after reports of an assault near the junctions with Elms Avenue and Cavendish Place.

Sussex Police said a group of young people were seen leaving the area shortly after the incident.

TEENAGER AIRLIFTED TO HOSPITAL

The 13-year-old local boy was taken to hospital by air ambulance for treatment.

Police later confirmed that he is due to be discharged from hospital, with specialist officers supporting him following the incident.

Detective Inspector Rob Tillyer, who is leading the investigation, described the incident as distressing and said officers were continuing to work quickly to establish exactly what happened.

“This is a distressing incident and the young teenage victim is being supported by specialist officers,” he said.

Police have maintained an increased presence in the area while detectives continue their enquiries.

FIVE PEOPLE ARRESTED

Five local people were arrested on Sunday evening.

They include:

• Two boys aged 16
• A 17-year-old boy
• A 22-year-old woman
• A 20-year-old man

All five were arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and remained in police custody, according to Sussex Police.

The arrests followed reports that a group of young people had left the area after the attack.

Police have not released further details about the circumstances leading up to the incident or identified any of those arrested.

All remain suspects at this stage and no findings of guilt have been established.

SEARCH FOR KNIFE CONTINUES

Officers were carrying out searches around Eastbourne on Monday as they attempted to locate a knife believed to be connected with the incident.

Police said the weapon had not been recovered.

Detectives are also appealing for members of the public who may have witnessed the incident or captured footage in the area.

They are particularly interested in CCTV, mobile-phone recordings and dashcam footage recorded between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact Sussex Police by calling 101 or reporting information online, quoting reference 1096 of 20/09.

POLICE INCREASE PRESENCE AROUND SEAFRONT

The incident has prompted an increased police presence around Grand Parade while officers continue their investigation.

Chief Inspector Kara Tombling, Eastbourne district commander, said police understood the concern caused by a serious incident in the community.

She said officers were being deployed not only to support the investigation but also to reassure residents, businesses and people visiting the seafront.

Police have also urged anyone who has concerns about someone carrying a knife to report it.

Sussex Police said around £600,000 is being invested through the Home Office’s Knife Crime Concentration Fund to help make knife-crime hotspots in Eastbourne, Crawley and Brighton safer. The funding will support measures including enhanced patrols and interventions aimed at young people considered at risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of knife crime.

INVESTIGATION REMAINS ONGOING

For now, detectives are still working to establish what led to the confrontation and the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s injuries.

Police have specifically asked the public not to speculate about what