West Midlands Police said no disorder took place at hospital following stabbing of a 16-year-old boy
Police who investigated reports of trouble at Birmingham’s Heartlands Hospital after a teenager was stabbed today, Monday, February 16, said no disorder took place. The West Midlands force said yesterday, Sunday, February 17, that officers were looking into “reports of disorder involving a number of people at a Birmingham hospital which is believed to be linked to the stabbing incident”.
In a new statement this afternoon, it said “we know no disorder took place at any hospital in Birmingham” following the attack on a boy of 16. He was knifed in Pretoria Road in Bordesley Green at 3.30pm on Saturday, February 15 – sparking what police later said were false social media reports that ambulances were “raided or unable to drop off patients at two Birmingham hospitals”.
West Midlands Police also said images on social media showing people carrying weapons were “fake”. The stabbing victim was stable in hospital while a 16-year-old arrested on suspicion of attempted murder remained in custody.
READ MORE: Birmingham stabbing and hospital ‘disorder’ – all we know as new details emerge
The force said the injured boy’s relatives and other members of the community went to “the hospital” and were “understandably upset and concerned with his welfare”.
West Midlands Police’s new statement in full read: “Following enquiries, we know no disorder took place at any hospital in Birmingham following the stabbing of a 16-year-old boy.
“We have confirmed this with officers who were in attendance, ambulance officials, and hospital staff who were on duty at the time.
“After investigating, we have found the boy’s family, along with community members close to him, gathered at the hospital and were understandably upset and concerned with his welfare.
“There was no disorder. Any claims of ambulances being raided or looted are untrue.”
“While images being shared on social media which claim to show people carrying weapons at a hospital are fake”, the statement continued.
“Thankfully, boy’s condition has improved and he is now stable.”
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust said: “We have been working closely with colleagues from West Midlands Police, since Saturday, regarding allegations of disorder at our hospital. “We would like to reassure people that our services have not been impacted and are fully open. The images and accompanying information being shared on social media – depicting violence, weapons and allegations of an ambulance being raided – are false.”