Some residents have said it now ‘doesn’t feel safe’ where they live
Locals have described the death of a 16-year-old boy as ‘chilling’. Floral tributes have been left at the scene where the teenager was reportedly attacked in Riseholme, Peterborough, at around 7pm on Sunday (April 12).
The 16-year-old boy was taken to hospital, where he later died. Cambridgeshire Police has said the stabbing is not believed to have been a “random attack”.
Tributes have been paid to the teenager, with flowers laid at the entrance to the Orton Shopping Centre. People who live opposite where the stabbing took place shared their reactions to the tragedy.
One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, first heard of the incident through one of her children’s friends. She said: “My teenager’s friend said something happened in Orton, but I didn’t know what.
“It’s so bad. I have teenagers and it’s not good. I feel it’s not safe [here] after what happened.” The woman said she was not allowed out of her home when a police cordon was in place on Monday (April 13). She added: “The police asked to look in my garden. I wasn’t allowed out – it felt like I was in jail.”
Nearby resident Jackie, who asked to use her first name only, said she heard “lots of sirens” on the night of the incident. She added: “I didn’t expect what happened to have happened.
”It’s so scary, especially being right on the doorstep. The poor boy that it happened to, I feel for his family. It feels less safe now that something like this has happened.”
One man, who asked to not be named, said the area is “getting worse”. He said: “There are always younger people hanging about near the centre and you don’t know what they are up to. Now something tragic has happened, something needs to be done about preventing something so bad happening again.”
Another woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said a “young life is lost just like that”. She added: “It’s so sad what happened. I have children near that age and now I don’t want to let them out. I don’t know what happened or how, but it’s a waste of a life. It’s chilling what happened.”
Officers arrested four people after Sunday’s incident. This involved a 15-year-old boy and 18-year-old man, both from Peterborough, on suspicion of murder. Police have asked for an extension to the custody limit for these two individuals so they can ask them more questions.
A 17-year-old girl from Peterborough was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. She has been released on conditional bail until July 8.
A 16-year-old girl from March was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and being in possession of a bladed article. She has been charged with possessing a knife/bladed article in a public place and is due to appear at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court on May 13.
A post-mortem is due to take place for the 16-year-old boy who died at Peterborough City Hospital on Thursday (April 15). He has not yet been formally identified, according to the police.
Cambridgeshire Police is still appealing for information. Anyone with information should report it online or call 101 and quote Operation Whitby.

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