Five teenagers were seriously injured in a stabbing at a Halloween party in Chandler’s Ford, near Eastleigh, Hampshire, police said.
Officers were called to Park Road shortly after 22:30 GMT on Saturday. The injured teenagers—three boys aged 16 and two aged 17—were taken to hospital.
Hampshire Police believes an unknown group gained entry to a party at an address on Park Road before the stabbings. A police cordon remained in place on Sunday as officers continued their investigation, and the force appealed for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward.
One eyewitness told the BBC that ambulances and an air ambulance attended the scene. Another said they saw someone running from the house, shouting that they had been stabbed and were being chased by two people.
Senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp Elizabeth Pirie acknowledged the incident’s impact on local residents and thanked the community for its patience.
Eastleigh MP Liz Jarvis said the community was in shock and expressed her thoughts for the teenagers, their parents and the wider community. She urged people to remain calm, avoid sharing information online and allow police to carry out their investigation.
Two churches in Chandler’s Ford have opened their doors to provide support. St Boniface in Hursley Road will be open from 09:00 to 17:00 throughout the week, while St Martin in the Wood in Queen’s Road will open from Monday to Wednesday between 15:00 and 17:00.
Sources: BBC News UK.