Two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a suspected stabbing in a park.
The incident occurred at People’s Park in Banbury at around 11.55pm on Sunday, August 4, as an 18-year-old man was hospitalised.
Thames Valley Police has now arrested a man and a boy in connection with the incident.
An 18-year-old man from Banbury was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder yesterday (August 6).
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The force says that the suspect currently remains in police custody.
A 14-year-old boy from Banbury was also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder a day earlier on Monday (August 5).
The suspect has been released on police bail until Thursday, October 24.
The victim, an 18-year-old man, remains in hospital in a stable condition following the assault.
Detective Inspector James Holden-White, based at Banbury police station, said: “We have made two arrests in connection this stabbing, which we are still investigating as a priority.
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“We still believe it was a targeted incident with those involved known to each other, so we have no reason to believe there is any threat to the general public.
“Our officers have now left the scene in and around People’s Park but remain on patrol around the town centre so please speak to a uniformed officer if you have any concerns.
“Please get in touch with us if you witnessed anything that might assist our investigation, or you have mobile phone, dash-cam, video doorbell or CCTV footage from the area at around the time of the assault, if you haven’t already.
“You can contact us online via our website, or by calling 101, quoting the reference number 43240373021.
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“Alternatively, if you don’t wish to speak directly to the police, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Police also confirmed that the scene-watch in and around the park has now been lifted.
Shortly after the incident, Detective Inspector James Holden-White said: “We are in the very early stages of this investigation, and there is a police presence in People’s Park, while this investigation continues.
“I appreciate incidents such as this cause concern, but I would like to reassure the local community that we believe this to be an isolated incident and as such, do not believe there is a wider risk to the public.
“If anybody has any concerns, please don’t hesitate to speak to any of our officers at the scene.
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“If you witnessed anything that may assist this investigation, or you have mobile phone, dash-cam or CCTV footage from the area at around the time of the incident, I would ask you to please get in touch with us."
Banbury MP Sean Woodcock said: “I am concerned to hear about the incident in Peoples’ Park on Sunday night.
"I would urge anyone with information to contact Thames Valley Police.”
The Oxford Mail launched an anti-knife campaign in April in response to a spate of incidents involving knives in the Oxford area.
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