Leamington Spa double stabbing 'might be linked to county lines'

A 17-year-old boy was declared dead in Tachbrook Road, Leamington Spa, on Wednesday

A stabbing in which a teenager was killed and another was critically injured may be linked to the county lines drugs trade, police have said.

The injured 18-year-old has since been arrested on suspicion of murder after the stabbing in Tachbrook Road, Leamington Spa, on Wednesday.

A man and a boy have also been arrested on suspicion of the same offence.

The victim, aged 17, was pronounced dead at the scene at about 11:00 GMT. He has not been formally identified.

Police have arrested three people on suspicion of murder

Ch Supt Ben Smith said it was "a very frightening attack in the middle of the day" and confirmed police were "aware" of the possible link to county lines.

"It might be linked to that," he said. "Clearly that is a line of our inquiry."

County lines is the term used to describe criminal gangs who move illegal drugs from big cities to more rural locations and sell them via dedicated mobile phone lines.

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Warwickshire Police said the stabbing - about 15 minutes' walk from the town centre - was "targeted".

The men were stabbed a short walk from Leamington Spa's town centre

Police said the arrested 18-year-old from Birmingham, who was critically injured in the attack, was in a stable condition in hospital and his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

The two other males arrested are aged 33 and 17.

The force is still seeking another suspect, described as a young black male with a leg injury, who was last seen in Emscote Road, Warwick, about half an hour after the attack.