Manhunt launched after 10-year-old boy stabbed in front of his mother

Residents report living in ‘fear’ following attack with some scared to open their front doors

Police have put up a cordon up around the scene on Belper Street (Google Street View)

A manhunt has been launched after a 10-year-old boy was stabbed in front of his mother in a street in Leicester.

Police said the youngster, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was in in the Belgrave area of the city on Saturday when the suspect stabbed him and fled.

A member of the public called the emergency services and the boy was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. The mother was not harmed during the incident.

Leicestershire Police said they are looking for a light-skinned Asian man, in his mid-20s, around 5ft 10ins tall, chubby build, who was wearing a brown coloured jacket, in connection with the stabbing.

Residents living in the area have spoken about their fear and shock following the attack. One pensioner who spoke to Leicestershire Live did so through a window as she claimed she was too frightened to open her door.

Another resident, Dinu Patel, said: “I was watching TV with my husband and I saw the blue lights and thought there was an ambulance outside.

“My husband looked out of the window and saw there were about seven police cars. The police were everywhere and I could tell it was something serious – not just a burglary or something. They were looking in all the gardens.

“It’s very scary. I go walking the dog after dark and I’m worried if things like that are happening around here. We have crimes like gold being snatched occasionally because there is a temple nearby but nothing like this.”

The attack is the third Belgrave stabbing in eight months.

Detective Inspector Tim Lindley said: “This was an act of violence against a young child who was out, in the street, with his mother.

“It happened in a residential area at a time of day when there would have been people about, either on foot or driving through.

“We need to find who was responsible for injuring this boy.

“If you were in the area of Belper Street between the times of 4.30pm and 6.30pm and saw what happened or a man matching this description we want to hear from you.

“Equally, if you have any dashcam footage or CCTV of the area please get in touch.”

A police cordon remains around the scene.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have information to call 101 quoting incident 437 of 18 January.

Additional reporting by agencies