Multiple stabbings in Birmingham city centre as police declare a major incident

Multiple people have been stabbed in Birmingham city centre, with police declaring a major incident.

West Midlands Police said there were ‘a number’ of victims, but the severity of their injuries was not immediately known.

Officers were called to reports of a stabbing in the city at around 12.30am on Sunday.

‘A number of other stabbings were reported in the area shortly after’, police added.

The incidents are said to have taken place in the Snow Hill area and near to Birmingham’s Arcadian Centre. The two areas are around half a mile apart.

A forensic tent has also been set up on Irving Street, a short walk from the Arcadian Centre. 

In a statement, the force said: ‘We are aware of a number of injured people, but at the moment we are not in a position to say how many or how serious.

‘However, all emergency services are working together at the scene, and making sure that those who are injured receive medical care.

‘Work is still going on to establish what has happened, and could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything.

‘At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.’

West Midlands Police said it had not had reports of gunshots being fired, following comments on social media. 

Its response to the incident will be ongoing ‘for some time’ and cordons are in police, the force added.

Officers have today set up a cordon at the junction of Hurst Street and Bromsgrove Street.

The area is part of Birmingham’s Gay Village – an LGBT neighbourhood with a  thriving night life featuring clubs, bars and live entertainment.

The area is also where Birmingham’s Gay Pride event takes place each year. 

One woman, who works in the area, told BBC Radio Five Live today that she heard two ‘bangs’ before seeing a young male lying on the floor.   

The club promoter told the station she had heard racial slurs during the incident, adding it was a ‘multicultural night’ in the clubs near the Arcadian complex – an indoor entertainment and party venue with bars, restaurants and a comedy club.

She said: ‘I heard a bang. I thought it was my boyfriend shutting the car door but I later found out it was one of many gunshots fired last night.

‘After leaving the car park, I heard another bang. I got out of the car and saw a young male lying on the floor.

‘I spoke to another man who had seen what happened and he told me it was a gunshot.’ 

Police today said in a tweet: ‘We’re aware of some comments that gunshots were fired, this has not been reported to us at this stage.’

A small forensic tent has also been seen on nearby Barwick Street, in Birmingham’s Snow Hill area.

A heavy police presence has also been spotted in the area.

Armed police have also been spotted in Colmore Row, near to Barwick Street, this morning.

People are being advised to avoid the area today, as police continue their investigations.

The incident comes after seven people were stabbed in London in a night of violence across the city on Friday.

A teenage boy was knifed on a train platform before another male was found with stab wounds at a neighbouring underground station after they had an ‘altercation’.

The teenager was stabbed at West Ham Station at 6.50pm while the other victim was found at Abbey Road DLR Station after getting a train shortly afterwards.

Both were taken to hospital where they remain after being treated by paramedics.

Later, five men were stabbed on the Broadway in Bexleyheath at around 9.33pm.

One of the victims has potentially life-threatening injuries. Five men have been arrested on suspicion of causing GBH.

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