Four dead in week of West Midlands stabbings
- Published
Four men have died in a week of stabbings in the West Midlands.
The first of the four separate attacks happened on Monday, with the latest on Saturday afternoon.
The offences in Birmingham and Solihull are not linked, but have raised fears about knife crime in the area.
David Jamieson, the region's police and crime commissioner, said knife crime was a "major concern and has been for quite some time".
A man died in a stabbing outside The Forge Tavern in Digbeth
Timeline of attacks:
3 July: Alexander Leonard, 22, of Bartley Green, dies after being attacked in in Woodgate Gardens
7 July: A 65-year-old man is found stabbed in a car in Alder Drive in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull. He later dies in hospital
8 July: A man is stabbed to death outside the Forge Tavern in Digbeth
8 July: A man in his twenties dies after a stabbing in Twickenham Road, Kingstanding
Officers at Twickenham Road, Kingstanding, on Saturday afternoon
Mr Jamieson said: "There has been a growing trend that's particularly prevalent in the warmer weather, The warm weather does bring out more crime, particularly crime that happens on the streets.
"It's desperately worrying. Any increase in any violent crime is worrying.
"The police are there to tackle the violence so people will have the full weight of the law thrown at them."
Elsewhere, a man was arrested on Saturday in connection with a stabbing at Merry Hill shopping centre in Brierley Hill at about 11:15 BST.
A 19-year-old man was taken to hospital to be treated for a stab injury, where he remains in a stable condition.
Ronan Parker, 19, of Dixons Green Road, Dudley, has since been charged with wounding with intent. He will appear at Dudley Magistrates' Court on Monday, police said.