Two teenagers arrested after 13-year-old boy stabbed
Two teenagers were arrested after a 13-year-old boy was stabbed near the Hamilton bus terminal.
A police spokesman said a 15-year-old boy and a 14-year-old boy had been arrested and released on police bail as the investigation continues.
The spokesman said: “Police officers responded Saturday afternoon after a 911 call about three males involved in an altercation.
“A 13-year-old boy attended the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital later that day with a non-life-threatening upper-back injury. He was treated and discharged.”
The spokesman thanked those who have already come forward with information and asked for anyone with video footage of the incident — said to have occurred at about 1.35pm — to assist.
The spokesman said it was too early in the investigation to say if the incident might have been gang-related or linked to other recent incidents of violence.
The incident is the latest of several stabbings, including four that have involved a teenage victim.
There have been at least 12 stabbing incidents in the past seven months, with three of them proving fatal.
September 16, 2021: Duane Gibbons, 57, was stabbed to death near the Swizzle Inn restaurant in Hamilton Parish.
October 22, 2021: A man was slashed in his arm during a brawl involving about 20 people at Azura Hotel in Warwick. Police claimed that a knife and a machete were used during the fight.
November 11, 2021: Morrisa Moniz, 28, was stabbed to death at a home in Smith’s.
December 5, 2021: A 29-year-old man was stabbed on South Road in Southampton.
December 18, 2021: Footballer Osagi Bascome was stabbed to death at a party at near Fun Zone in St David’s.
January 9: A 56-year-old man was stabbed in Southside, St George’s.
February 4: A 14-year old boy was stabbed while waiting at a bus stop on Parsons Road, Pembroke.
February 16: A man was stabbed in the back near Victor Scott School in Pembroke.
February 26: A teenager was injured in a brawl after a football match at the National Sports Centre.
February 27: A woman was stabbed in the back during a fight at the Legends nightclub in Sandys.
February 28: A 15-year-old boy was stabbed in the chest in St George’s.
April 2: A 13-year-old boy was stabbed in an altercation near the Hamilton bus terminal.
Michael Weeks, the recently appointed minister of national security, said at a press conference yesterday afternoon that tackling the issue of gang violence was a priority for the ministry and that he would talk to all stakeholders to help to develop a plan.
Mr Weeks said: “I know other people have said it, but I want to sit down with our community leaders, our churches, our community clubs and see how we can come up with a plan, which involves the police, and come up with some solutions.”
He said he did not think that the legalisation of cannabis would have an impact on crime rates “in any major way”, although he added that he did not want to speculate.
Mr Weeks said: “Let me sit down with my technical people and we will discuss all that kind of stuff and I will come back and have some answers.”
Shadow minister of national security Michael Dunkley yesterday said: "Any violent incident in Bermuda is a real concern and sadly the report of a youth being stabbed with two other youths arrested is heightened concern. There is no reason for anyone to carry a knife around for protection, let alone a young person.
"While we support the police in doing their job, and we have confidence in their ability, they cannot do it without information from the public. People who know something must say something.
“Additionally, recent youth violence raises the concern that family and friends need to exercise more oversight on our youth. Too often we are failing in this regard.
"Our children are our responsibility and through good times and tough times we must care, nurture and know what they are doing.“
Commissioner of Police Darrin Simons said earlier this year that police had seen an “uptick” in knife crime and that teenagers were carrying knives to protect themselves.
Mr Simons warned young people that carrying a knife made it more likely that they would become involved in dangerous situations.
He said: “If you feel threatened, do not arm yourself. Report your concern to someone in authority.
“The safest thing to do if you’re threatened is to move away from the threat, to distance yourself from any opportunity to get involved.”
It is illegal to carry any bladed implement that has a blade length of three inches or more.
Anyone with information can contact Acting Detective Sergeant Seymour Foote on 717-2282 or by e-mail at sfoote@bps.bm.
