By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Police are hunting a group of attackers who stabbed five teenage boys at a Halloween party in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, on Saturday night.
Attack details
Officers were called shortly after 22:30 GMT to Park Road where an unknown group gained entry to the event. Three 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Witness accounts
Two witnesses told the BBC a fight started after a group entered over a garden fence. One teenager described seeing a friend pull up his shirt to reveal a stab wound, later lying outside with someone compressing the wound. Another witness said a large group shouted before a fight broke out and the host told everyone to leave, revealing an injured person on the floor.
Schools and community response
Barton Peveril Sixth Form College in Eastleigh confirmed two current students were among the victims and offered support. Thornden Secondary School in Chandler's Ford said some former students were injured; head teacher Caroline Lowing called the news deeply upsetting. Eastleigh MP Liz Jarvis said the community was in shock and urged calm, warning against sharing misinformation. A Home Office spokesperson expressed support for the investigation and reiterated government action to halve knife crime.
Police investigation and local support
Hampshire Police have cordoned off parts of Park Road and Valley Road. Detective Chief Inspector Elizabeth Pirie said officers are tracing partygoers and seeking video footage. The Reverend Duncan Hollands, vicar of Chandler's Ford, described the area as peaceful and said churches had opened doors for reflection and support, with St Boniface Church open weekdays and St Martin in the Wood available Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
