Man held over fatal double stabbing

A man has been arrested after two men were stabbed to death in a city centre, police have said.

The men, who are believed to be in their 40s, were stabbed in Birmingham city centre just before 6pm on Friday.

West Midlands Police said one victim is understood to have been stabbed outside a Sainsbury's store on Martineau Place while the second man was found slumped near Boots in Union Street. Both had suffered fatal stab wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.

A man was arrested in New Street near the Odeon Cinema shortly after the stabbings.

Inspector David Keen said: "Two men have suffered fatal injuries - these have been inflicted in the heart of the city at a busy time when workers and shoppers would be heading home.

"There are potentially hundreds of witnesses, either people who saw the stabbings or the offender leaving the scene, and I'd urge people to get in touch immediately - they could have vital information. A large police presence was quickly on the scene and a man was arrested swiftly."

West Midlands Ambulance Service received a number of 999 calls to reports of stabbings on Union Street. Two paramedic area support officers, three ambulance crews, a doctor from the West Midlands Central Accident Resuscitation and Emergency (Care) Team and a further immediate care doctor went to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "Crews arrived to find two men who had been stabbed and were being given excellent first aid by police officers and passers-by.

"Both men went into cardiac arrest. Crews and the team of medics administered advanced life support to both men but sadly, despite the best efforts, nothing could be done to save them and they were confirmed dead on scene."

An area of Union Street was cordoned off while officers carried out forensic investigations. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information was asked to call police on the 101 number.