Swindon stabbing: Boy arrested on suspicion of attempted murder

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a stabbing in Swindon.

Wiltshire Police were called to Meadowcroft Fields, in Upper Stratton, shortly after 20:00 BST on Thursday after reports of disorder involving a group of teenagers.

A boy, 17, was taken to Bristol's Southmead Hospital by air ambulance and remains in a critical condition.

The 15-year-old has been taken into custody for questioning, said police.

Wiltshire Police put a section 60 order in place across much of Swindon and Highworth shortly before 23:00 BST on Thursday.

The order gives officers enhanced powers to stop and search people in the area without requiring "reasonable grounds".

Police extended the order by a further 24 hours and it will now run until 22:55 BST on Saturday and there remains a heightened police presence in the area.

George Scarrott, who runs a funfair that was open on Meadowcroft Fields on Thursday evening, said: "It was a lovely night, families were out having fun.

"The fair went really quiet. I saw lots of kids running over behind the rides.

"A lot of panic [and] screaming. The next minute you see ambulances arrive. It was not until the police presence that we really understood what had happened.

"As soon as it happened, everyone disappeared and we shut the fair down as a mark of respect."

He added he was in contact with the police to see if the fair could reopen.

What is a section 60 order?

It can be put in place if a police officer, at the rank of inspector or above, believes people could be carrying weapons or are likely to cause serious violence.

The order lasts for up to 24 hours, but can be extended for up to another 24 hours, and is limited to a specific area.

It means police officers can search anyone within the area during the timeframe without reasonable grounds, although they must explain their thinking and mention that there is a section 60 in place.

Ch Supt Phil Staynings said a section 60 was a tactical tool used by police to keep the public safe.

"Clearly there were a number of young people around last night and a young person was seriously injured, and of course people are emotional.

"We need to take into account that tactic and the emotion that many young people might feel."

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