Police patrols increased after two teen stabbings

Thames Valley Police is "keeping an open mind" that two separate stabbing incidents involving two teenagers in Banbury could be linked.

The force said a boy, 17, suffered grievous bodily harm after being stabbed by three unknown men between 23:00 GMT on Friday and 00:30 GMT on Saturday in the park area by Ruscote Arcade.

On 10 February, another 17-year-old boy was stabbed in the alleyway through Princess Diana Park when an unknown man approached him.

TVP said there would be increased patrols over the coming days.

The first victim was walking between Edmund Road and Mold Crescent between 17:20 GMT and 17:45 GMT, when the offender began a conversation.

The force said that after a few minutes, the man had taken out a knife and had stabbed the boy in the leg.

He has been described as a white male, aged between 18 and 19, about 5ft 9ins to 5ft 10ins tall with a medium build.

TVP added that he had been wearing a black balaclava, black puffer-style coat with a white logo on the back, black tracksuit bottoms and black trainers.

The victim was treated in hospital for a minor injury and has since been discharged.

The second victim was stabbed in the lower back by one of the men who had approached him.

TVP said one of the offenders had been on a bicycle and another one had been wearing a balaclava.

The force said the 17-year-old's injury was "not life-threatening or life-changing" and that he had sought medical treatment for it.

Det Insp Lorna Briggs said she was "conscious that this is a second incident involving a stabbing in the last seven days in the town".

"Although there is no evidence as yet to suggest that the incident is linked to a previous stabbing of another 17-year-old boy in Princess Diana Park last Monday, we are, naturally, keeping an open mind as to this possibility," she added.

"We will be stepping up patrols and the public will see an increased presence of officers in the area in the coming days.

"I appreciate that incidents such as these two will cause concern in our local community, but I would like to assure the public that we are investigating both incidents thoroughly."

TVP said that no arrests had been made at this stage and appealed for anybody with information to get in touch.

Banbury MP Sean Woodcock said he was "sorry" to hear about the two incidents.

"I am pressing the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley to ensure that the police are given the resources they need at a local level to increase local patrols," he said.

Thames Valley's police and crime commissioner Matthew Barber said: "I remain committed to reducing knife crime incidents through our zero-tolerance approach 'Operation Deter' which is making better use of charge and remand options for those found in possession of a knife."

You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.