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Brentwood murders: Tributes paid to 16-year-old boys stabbed to death

Brentwood murders: Tributes paid to 16-year-old boys stabbed to death

Tributes have been paid to two 16-year-old boys stabbed to death in an Essex double murder in what an MP has labelled “a very dark day for” Brentwood.

Neighbours heard shouting coming from a property in Regency Court and then someone “yelling out in pain” around 1.30am on Sunday.

Officers found three injured people, including two boys - named locally as Charlie and Frankie - who later died from their injuries.

The third person was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Eight men - aged over 18 - were arrested on suspicion of murder and are being questioned at police stations in the county.

Essex Police said the murders were isolated and targeted.

(Essex Police/PA)
(Essex Police/PA)

Alex Burghart, the MP for Brentwood and Ongar, said: “This a very dark day for our town.

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“My deepest condolences to the families of the boys who have so dreadfully lost their lives.

“To lose two 16-year-olds so needlessly and senselessly has left us all very upset.”

“Knife crime is an issue across the country and one that the government takes extremely seriously.

“I must urge anyone with any information to immediately share it with the police so that justice can be done as swiftly as possible.”

A neighbour said he had tried to warn police about drug-dealing and anti-social behaviour in the area in recent weeks.

Mark MacIntosh had only just arrived home when he heard shouting and screaming coming from a nearby property. He said he paced around his flat wondering what he should do.

“Now as I reflect, I realise that what I heard was somebody yelling out in pain who may have lost his life shortly thereafter,” Mr MacIntosh said.

He claimed the area had problems which stemmed from a multi-storey car park that overlooks the scene.

He added: “There’s constant anti-social behaviour, drinking, drugs, shouting, fighting.

“I’ve heard people saying ‘I’m going to kill him’ up there. I’ve come down and broken up a knife fight down at the bottom here before.”

Mr MacIntosh said he told police three weeks ago that something bad would happen unless they arranged constant patrols.

Ashley White, 32, who lives nearby and heard the attack, said: “Disgusting and so sad. I keep hearing the screams for an ambulance in my head just can’t believe it.

“To everyone in Brentwood, Essex and surrounding area, please stay safe.”

Family and friends of the victims visited the scene on Sunday. A teenage girl was seen bursting into tears as she laid flowers.

One tribute read: “Words can’t describe the hurt that we feel right now. Never forgotten, always remembered. Love you boys to bits.”

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Clarkson, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “We understand there will naturally be shock and concern within the community after such a tragic loss of life.

“But, at this stage, we do not believe there is any wider threat to the public.”

Essex Police Chief Inspector Mark Barber said officers remain open-minded as to what happened, adding that investigations so far suggest it was an isolated incident and there is no wider threat to the Brentwood community.

“We would like to appeal to anyone who was in the Crown Street area of Brentwood between 10pm on Saturday and 5am on Sunday who witnessed any suspicious behaviour between that time frame,” he said.

Anyone with any information has been asked to contact Essex Police on 101, quoting incident 125 of October 24.

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