Community still in shock after Halloween stabbing

A community is still processing its sadness and shock after five teenagers were injured after being stabbed at a Halloween party in Hampshire, a local church leader has said.

The Reverend Duncan Hollands is the vicar at St Boniface Church, the parish church of Chandler's Ford, where the attack took place at about 22:30 GMT on Saturday.

He said the church would hold a service to give people in the area a chance to "grieve" and "be together" in the wake of the incident.

Meanwhile, Eastleigh MP, Liberal Democrat Liz Jarvis, urged the government to treat violent crime as a "public health emergency".

Police were called to a home in Park Road in Chandler's Ford on Saturday night, where an "unknown group" had gained entry to a Halloween party by climbing over a garden fence.

The group then launched the attack that left five boys with serious injuries.

One of the victims, a 17-year-old boy, remains in hospital in a life-threatening condition, while the other four have been discharged.

"I think there is an ongoing realisation of sadness and shock as the days go on," said Hollands.

He said the church's service, on Saturday night, would include songs, prayers, and the opportunity for visitors to light a candle.

He continued: "It's a way of trying to do something to host a space for people to process or grieve or be together, and then afterwards have a safe space for youth to hang out in and relax in if they want that."

During Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions, Jarvis offered her support to the victims and their families, and called on the government to deliver an appropriate response to the incident.

She asked: "What reassurance can the minister give my constituents that the government is taking the issue of violent crime seriously and treating it as a public health emergency?"

Cabinet Office Minister Louise Haigh, sitting in for Andy Burnham, said: "We remain committed to halving knife crime over the next decade but I will ensure a minister meets with [Jarvis] to discuss the particular issues she raises with this crime and how we take those issues forward."

Hampshire Police arrested four teenage boys on suspicion of attempted murder - one 16-year-old from Bristol, and two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old from Southampton.

Officers seized items during searches at addresses linked to the arrested boys, including two in Southampton and one in Bristol.