Four boys aged 13 to 15 have been arrested on suspicion of murder
A 12-year-old girl has died following a stabbing incident in Liverpool city centre on Thursday night and four young boys have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Assistant Chief Constable Jon Roy said police believe Ava White and her friends had been involved in a "verbal argument which culminated in Ava being assaulted causing catastrophic injuries".
Officers were called at approximately 8.39pm to reports of an assault and discovered Ava, "collapsed on the ground, and a member of the public who witnessed the incident was giving first aid".
Paramedics attended at the scene and Ava was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where she died a short time later. A post mortem is set to be carried out to establish the cause of death.
One of the arrested boys is 13, two are aged 14 and one is 15. They are all from Toxteth and are currently being interviewed at police stations on Merseyside.
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Ava's death occurred on White Ribbon Day, which is a global campaign to end violence against women.
Roy said: “Our thoughts and condolences go out to Ava’s family, who are being supported specialist Family Liaison officers. Their world has been torn apart and no parent should ever have to face that knock on the door from police officers to say that their child has died."
Police said Liverpool city centre was very busy at the time of the incident as the lights on the Christmas tree on Church Street had been officially switched on a short while earlier and appealed for anyone who was on Church Street who saw the incident, or may even have captured it on their mobile phone, to come forward.
“Anyone who witnessed the incident, or may even have filmed the incident, or who has information which could help us with our inquiries, is asked to DM @MerPolCC, message ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook’ or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 with reference 0899 of 25 November," Roy said.
https://twitter.com/MerPolCityCen/status/1464145734639497216
He added: “Ava’s death should be a reminder to us all about the part that we each have to play in eliminating violence against women and girls.
“Ava died on White Ribbon Day which is a global campaign to end violence against women, and yesterday partners from around the city joined together to mark the day, which is also the start of 16 days of activity designed to raise awareness of VAWG and show how we are working together to make sure that VAWG is something that should not be tolerated in any society.”
