Man jailed after students stabbed near college

Sgt Paul Wadsworth said it was a "miracle" neither of Kierson Murray's victims had life-changing injuries

A teenager who stabbed two students near their further education college has been jailed for three and a half years.

The boys, who were aged 16 and 17, received serious stab wounds outside a newsagents near Oaklands College in St Albans on 9 October 2023.

Hertfordshire Police said it was a "miracle" their injuries were not life-changing.

Kierson Murray, who was 17 at the time, of Link Walk in Hatfield, was found guilty at St Albans Crown Court of causing grievous bodily harm and possessing a bladed article.

Armed response officers and a police helicopter were called to St Albans after the stabbings on the Monday afternoon

Murray, now aged 19, used a knife to stab one victim in the back, and the other in the arm at about 15:40 BST on the Monday in question.

Armed response officers were sent to Hatfield Road, along with a police helicopter and the ambulance service.

Hertfordshire Police thanked members of the public for helping to identify Murray.

Sgt Paul Wadsworth said: "This was an unusual, targeted attack on two teenagers near a college at a time when children were walking home from school.

"We are pleased Murray has been given a lengthy sentence for inflicting serious injuries on two teenage boys.

"Three young lives have changed forever following the actions of Murray and that's the stark reality of carrying a knife.

"By some miracle, the victims' injuries are not life-changing and no members of the public were injured."