14-year-old in critical condition after stabbing outside Birmingham mosque

A boy, 14 is fighting for his life after he was stabbed on a city street outside the Idaara Maarif-e-Islam mosque in Birmingham’s Small Heath at 1am on Saturday, reports the Guardian. He was understood to have been knifed in the head and neck on the pavement, which was witnessed by his horrified father, and remained in a critical condition in hospital on Saturday afternoon. West Midlands police said a 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder on Saturday morning and is currently in custody. According to the Birmingham Mail, the area was sealed off and forensics examinations were taking place. Police said that they are not treating the attack as a terrorist incident, however detectives were investigating whether the stabbing may have been the subject of a hate crime. Detective Inspector Jim Colclough, from West Midlands Police’s complex crime investigation team at Bournville Lane police station said the investigation is progressing quickly but it is still in the early stages. Officers were working closely with local communities and had increased police surveillance in the area to provide reassurance. Azhar Kiana, the president of the mosque has appealed to remain calm in the community after the incident, reports the Birmingham Mail.