West Midlands Police has said one man died in the stabbing incidents overnight.

A further seven people are injured.

West Midlands Police is asking people to check its social feeds for updates and not to speculate on the incidents overnight.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street echoed the calls not to speculate. He tweeted, external: "I would ask everyone to not speculate about the incident in Birmingham.

"West Midlands Police are set to hold a press conference this morning.

"My thoughts are with those affected, and my thanks to the emergency services working to deal with this incident."

This is how the incident in Birmingham is being reported by some news websites in the West Midlands:

• Birmingham Live has: Updates after multiple stabbings in city centre declared 'major incident', external
• The Express and Star headline is: Major incident declared after multiple stabbings in Birmingham, external

The leader of Birmingham City Council, Ian Ward, has called the events overnight "extremely concerning".

The Labour councillor said he would support police and his "thoughts [are] with those affected"

He added on Twitter, external: "Please stay away and let the police do their jobs."

Mr Ward later tweeted: "There is no room in Birmingham for this level of violence, and we ask that everyone co-operate with the police and follow their guidance."

A briefing is due to be held shortly by West Midlands Police. Here is an update of what we know at this stage:

• Police were called at about 00:30 BST to reports of a stabbing in Birmingham. Other stabbings were reported shortly afterwards
• Multiple people were injured, police will not confirm numbers at this stage
• A major incident has been declared and a large area of the city centre cordoned off
• Eyewitness Cara Curran said attack "seemed like one group of boys against another"

• There have been no arrests so far, says West Midlands Police
• And there is no information linking the incident to terrorism, says Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab
• Footage circulating on social media showing an armed arrest is not related to the stabbings, police say

Rob Mayor
BBC Radio WM

This is clearly a very large crime scene with police activity stretching from Hurst Street to Snow Hill almost a mile away.

Yellow triangles on the street have been placed to mark areas of interest by police and we’ve seen forensic officers working this morning.

People are trying to go about their business this morning, but a large stretch of Birmingham city centre remains cordoned off.

Video posted on social media shows emergency service vehicles, and parts of the city centre have now been cordoned off.

Footage circulating on social media showing a man being arrested by firearms officers in Birmingham is not connected to last night's incident, West Midlands Police has said, external.

Cara Curran is a club promoter and has worked near the Arcadian Centre in Birmingham for two years.

She saw the events of last night unfold and spoke to BBC Radio 5 live: "As the night wore on and the alcohol was going in, tensions started to rise, security was now all onboard."

"The club security were in full force, more and more police were filing in, checking that social distancing was still a thing, it was just a bad vibe."

She added: "It started off as individuals outside one of the main clubs, as soon as one person got involved, every person got involved, I'm assuming friends would all jump in.

"It started off as one or two and turned into five or six."

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has described the incident in Birmingham as "very serious" but said he had received no information linking it to terrorism.

Speaking earlier on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One, he repeated his plea for the public to "stay very vigilant".

Asked whether it was being linked to terrorism, he said: "I haven't got any information to that extent."

The Press Association is reporting eye-witnesses saying as many as eight people were injured following the disorder overnight.

But emergency services in Birmingham have not yet confirmed how many were hurt nor how serious the injuries are.

The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has urged people to "remain calm" following the major incident declared in Birmingham.

Posting on Twitter, he said "our thoughts are with those affected" and asked people to stay away from the area.

BBC Midlands Today reporter Nick Clitheroe, reporting from outside the cordon, said: “Police were called at about half past midnight to reports of a stabbing here in a very busy area of the city’s nightlife.

"And when they arrived they found out there were reports of far more people having been stabbed as well.

"So as a result of that, they have declared a major incident having taken place here."

“We have heard reports from eyewitnesses suggesting that a large fight broke out involving large numbers of people of all ages outside some of the venues here.

"Originally it seemed to be a fist fight, but obviously at some point a knife has been pulled and used during that fight.

"The police say it may take some time before they establish exactly what has gone on here.”

The police cordon is in a place near the area known as the Gay Village in the centre of Birmingham.

Many people had been seated at outdoor tables eating and drinking on Saturday evening, the BBC's Simon Jones said.

Image source, PA Media

The streets in the area had already been closed to traffic due to coronavirus restrictions.

The Arcadian venue, located about five minutes' walk from Birmingham New Street railway station, is a hub of restaurants, bars, cafes, clubs and hotels.

Featuring an open air central piazza, it is also close to the city's Chinese Quarter.

Our reporter said there had also been some police activity at a second location in the Snow Hill area, about a 10-minute walk from the cordoned-off streets, which is believed to be linked to the Hurst Street incident.

West Midlands Police said officers were aware of "some comments saying gunshots were fired", but added "this has not been reported to us at this stage".

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said the incidents "look to be related, but the motivation is unclear".

Speaking to BBC Breakfast earlier, he said: "I've been briefed by the chief constable this morning and West Midlands Police will be doing a media briefing later."

"There has been a series of incidents in the Hurst Street area of the city, they look to be related but the motivation for them is not yet understood.

"It is an ongoing police operation but at the moment the area is calm and the advice to the public is to go about as normal but to be vigilant."

A police forensic tent can been seen at a cordon in Irving Street, Birmingham, after a number of people were stabbed in the city centre.

Hurst Street remains closed in the city, as does Bromsgrove Street and Livery street.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Witness Cara told BBC Radio 5 live the attack seemed like "one group of boys against another group of boys".

You can watch her full interview below.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said those in the vicinity of the major incident in Birmingham should be "very vigilant".

Image source, EPA

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Raab said: "My thoughts are with the victims and their families, there is obviously an ongoing police investigation.

"I can't say too much more at this stage but people should be very vigilant if they are in that area."

A briefing will be held later by West Midlands Police, but here is the confirmed information we have so far:

• Police were called at about 00:30 to reports of a series of stabbings
• Multiple people have been injured, police will not confirm numbers at this stage
• A major incident is declared
• The motivation is so far unclear, but the stabbings look to be related
• One witness told BBC Radio 5 live the attack seemed like "one group of boys against another group of boys"
• West Midlands Police says it has not had reports gunshots were fired, despite some comments
• The stabbings took place in the Gay Village area of Birmingham