Ipswich stabbing: Man, 18, dies after town centre attack

Police attended Westgate Street, Ipswich, on Tuesday afternoon and sealed off a section containing Marks & Spencer, Primark and a former Debenhams

An 18-year-old man has died after being stabbed in what police believe was a "targeted attack" in a town centre.

Suffolk Police said it was called to Westgate Street in Ipswich at 15:35 GMT on Tuesday, to reports of an assault.

The force said it was looking for two male suspects who were seen to leave the scene.

The county's police and crime commissioner, Tim Passmore, called it a "terrible, terrible incident in broad daylight".

A section of the main shopping area of Ipswich remained cordoned off on Wednesday morning

A Section 60 order was implemented just before 17:00 on Tuesday for a period of 24 hours, to provide officers with additional stop and search powers.

The ambulance service also attended and the street was closed off between the Cornhill and Museum Street, taking in Marks & Spencer and Primark.

'Brazen attack'

Numerous police units were sent to search the area for the suspects, including armed officers and a helicopter from the National Police Air Service.

Officers said one suspect headed towards Providence Street and the other was seen to be heading towards the Cornhill.

A section of the main shopping area remains cordoned off.

The police force has appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Det Ch Insp Matthew Connick said: "This was a brazen attack in the town centre which will have caused great distress to anyone who witnessed it.

"Whilst inquiries are at an early stage, we believe this to be a targeted attack."

Police and ambulance crews attended the scene on Tuesday afternoon

He added there would be an increased police presence in the town over the coming days to provide reassurance to residents and businesses.

"We know that many people would have witnessed this attack and we urge you to make contact with us," he said.

'Beggars belief'

Mr Passmore, Conservative, said it was a "terrible, terrible incident in broad daylight".

"I do know that the police took extremely quick action... and I know they will do everything possible, and are doing everything possible, to find the culprits and bring them to justice," he said.

"It is a shocking incident, it beggars belief."

He added that he hoped the extra police presence in the town would reassure people.

"Ipswich is safe compared to many other places," he said.

"Everything possible is being done to make sure we keep our county town and the county safe."

The public cannot walk through to the Cornhill from Westgate Street

At the scene

Matt Marvell, BBC Radio Suffolk

It's 08:00 on Wednesday and I'm in Westgate Street looking down towards the Cornhill, and there is police tape across the road with police cars here as well.

I think you'd expect me to say there's a real sense of shock, it's what people say in this situation, but there absolutely is.

Yesterday, there would have been lots of people here at the time of the attack - it was 3.30 in the afternoon, there would have been kids leaving school, families going shopping, people going for treats.

Anyone in the area would have seen a large police presence including armed officers and a police helicopter as they searched the area for the two male suspects.

This attack happened in broad daylight, when the town was busy, and police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

People shopping in Ipswich have told the BBC they no longer feel safe in the town centre.

Jane Hall said she thought the attack was "shocking and it is really quite frightening".

Jane and Tasha Hall no longer feel safe in Ipswich town centre

"It's not the same as when I was growing up," she said.

Her daughter, Tasha, 27, added that she did not want to walk around the town on her own.

"I remember when I used to go out on nights out when I was 18 I felt really safe, but I don't think I'd feel safe now," she said.

Gerry and Sue Pople said they only come into the town centre in the mornings

Sue Pople said: "I am worried. I've got two grandsons and you just think 'I hope you're going to be safe', and you shouldn't have to say that in this day and age."

Husband, Gerry, said the pair only go to the town centre in the mornings and socialise in village pubs in the evenings.

"They are trying to encourage more people to come into the town centre for eating and drinking because half the shops have closed down," he said. "So if you can't come into town to enjoy yourself for a social time, it's a bit of a poor show."

Anti-knives campaigner Paul Stansby said people were "living in fear"

Paul Stansby, whose brother Dean was fatally stabbed in Ipswich's Gippeswyk Park in 2017 and has since become a campaigner against knife crime, said this latest incident had "really hit the security of our town".

"It was right in prime time in the day... it's like, what are we going to be able to do to keep ourselves safe [when] going out?

"We're living in fear now... of just popping to the shops," he said.

Conservative MP for Ipswich, Tom Hunt, said he would look to ask an urgent question in the House of Commons as he wants work tackling gang problems in the town to increase.

"We know more often than not that knife incidents appear to be between different gang members," he said.

"The police today are doing a lot of reassurance... but we need a permanent increase in police presence in the town centre and I think the work that Suffolk Constabulary are doing in terms of tackling gang activity needs to intensify and continue."

Police officers are providing reassurance to the public in Ipswich town centre