A teenager has tragically died after being stabbed in a UK town, police said. West Midlands Police have now launched a murder investigation, urging witnesses and people with information to come forward.  

West Midlands Police officers were called following “disorder outside a mosque” located in Oldbury Road, Smethwick, just before 9pm on February 20. There, they found an 18-year-old man with serious injuries. The teen later sadly died, the force added. 

The force said: “Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this devastating time.” 

Police added two other men, aged 19 and 22, were taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. 

Police also said in a statement: “At this stage the incident is not being treated as religiously or racially aggravated but we’re working to establish the full circumstances and who was involved.” 

The force said extra officers will be in the area over the coming days to offer reassurance to the community, given the “deeply distressing” nature of the incident.  

Police are now reviewing CCTV and carrying out other enquiries in the area, and have urged witnesses or people with information, including mobile phone or dashcam footage, to contact them on 101 quoting log number 4896 of 20 February. Alternatively, members of the public who want to remain anonymous can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. 

A worshipper has described the harrowing moments after the incident. 

Speaking to BirminghamLive, a 52-year-old said: “We were inside for prayer, the Taraweeh Namaz, when we came out and saw all the people here. It was all men, ambulances and police.

“The police said ‘go back inside the mosque.’ They sealed it off and the police said we could walk out but we couldn’t get our cars. It was roughly around 9.40pm.

“We were very panicked, we were shocked.”