Police have been granted additional time to question two teenage boys arrested on suspicion of murder following a fatal stabbing in Cheltenham.
The 15- and 17-year-old boys were detained after a man in his 40s was fatally stabbed on Tuesday, December 16. The incident occurred in an alleyway between Albert Street and Hungerford Street in the St Paul’s area of Cheltenham.
Gloucestershire Police launched a murder investigation immediately after the stabbing. Shortly thereafter, the two boys and an adult man from Cheltenham were arrested. The adult has since been released with no further action.
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On Thursday, December 18, detectives successfully applied to Cheltenham Magistrates' Court for an extension of the custody period, allowing them to continue questioning the boys until the following afternoon.
Additionally, three individuals from Cheltenham were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender but have been released on bail pending further inquiries.
Police have established cordons in areas including parts of Pittville Park as investigations continue.
Gloucestershire Police are urging anyone with information regarding the stabbing to come forward. Witnesses or those with relevant details are asked to contact police by calling 101 and quoting incident 241 of 16 December. Information can also be provided online using the same incident reference.