A father and son stabbed at home in Station Road, Thurnby, are now stable, police said on 14 October. The force sees no wider risk to the public.

A father and his 15-year-old son were left in a life-threatening, critical condition in hospital after two masked men attacked a family in their home in Thurnby.

Updated 28 October: in an update on 14 October, Leicestershire Police said the father and son are still receiving specialist treatment but are now in a stable condition. The force said searches of the area are complete, the investigation is “progressing significantly”, and it has no information to suggest a wider risk to the public. It does not believe anyone other than the two people who entered the house was responsible, and said there is nothing to suggest the attack was racially or religiously motivated. No arrest had been announced on the force’s news pages when we checked on 28 October. Information can still go to the Major Incident Public Portal or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Leicestershire Police said it was called at 12.26am on Thursday 8 October. The report was of a disturbance at a house in Station Road, at the corner with Somerby Road. Two masked men are believed to have entered the house and attacked the people inside.

The force said:

  • a man in his 50s suffered a number of stab wounds
  • a 15-year-old boy was also stabbed
  • a woman in her 40s, the man’s wife and the boy’s mother, had minor injuries to her hand and shoulder and has been discharged from hospital
  • three other children were in the house and were not hurt

Armed officers were sent “in the interest of public and police safety”, but the men had left before they arrived. The force’s first statement was issued on Thursday and a second appeal on Friday.

No arrests had been announced by Saturday afternoon, and the police have not named anyone involved.

“Completely unprovoked”

The investigation is being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), the regional unit that handles major crime. Detective Inspector Lorna Granville is in charge.

“This was a violent attack against a family in their own home which appears to have been completely unprovoked,” she said on Friday.

“I’m making a direct appeal to people in Thurnby and the surrounding communities to come forward with any information if they haven’t already done so. We owe it to the victims to locate the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

The force said the investigation, into the circumstances and the motive, would continue over the weekend. A police presence is staying in the area while officers search for anything that could help identify the men. A scene was kept in place at the house for a forensic examination.

Where it happened

Thurnby sits on the eastern edge of Leicester, inside Harborough district and about 12 miles north of Market Harborough.

Officers from the Harborough and Wigston neighbourhood policing team are carrying out reassurance patrols, and the force says anyone with concerns should speak to them.

What it means for you

Detectives want to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious, unusual or out of place around Station Road and Somerby Road between 11pm on Wednesday 7 October and the early hours of Thursday 8 October. They are particularly asking for:

  • dashcam footage from anyone who drove through the area in that window
  • CCTV or doorbell footage from homes and businesses nearby
  • sightings of anyone acting suspiciously, or of any vehicle that caused concern

“Anything you’re able to provide, no matter how insignificant you think it might be, could help us,” DI Granville said.

You can pass on information in two ways:

If you see someone in immediate danger, call 999.

We will update this report when the police release more information.

Sources