Children held over murder attempt

Woods at Earlsheaton, where the boy sustained his injuries

Police briefing
Police are continuing to question two children after releasing three others over the suspected attempted murder of a five-year-old boy.

A girl and a boy, both aged 11, remain in police custody after the victim was found in West Yorkshire with ligature marks around his neck.

Anthony Hinchliffe, of Chickenley, Dewsbury, was discovered injured near Earlsheaton Medical Centre on Tuesday.

He was treated in hospital and discharged on Wednesday.

Police are still searching for two or three more people.

Five child suspects - two girls aged 12 and 11, and three boys, two aged 12 and one aged 11 - were arrested by detectives in West Yorkshire on suspicion of attempted murder.

Police said on Thursday morning that two of the boys had been eliminated from their inquiries and allowed to go home.

The 12-year-old girl was released later on Thursday after an unsucessful application to a magistrate to be allowed to detain her for a further period.


The victim has suffered some serious injuries - there are marks which cause me concern
Det Supt Andy Brennan

The boy's father, Mark Hinchliffe, who lives apart from Anthony's mother, told ITV News he had been to hospital to visit his son but was told he had been released.

Asked what kind of boy his son was, he said: "Very active lad, do you know what I mean? He loves playing about and that - he's an active lad. He's got loads of friends but something like this...you don't know."

A woman living close to the boy's house saw his mother bringing him home on the night of the alleged attack.

Edna Gray, 79, said: "He was looking a bit dazed and in a bad way.

"She looked mad and she went to call the police and an ambulance arrived soon afterwards."

Mrs Gray, who said the boy's mother had four other children, described Anthony as a "lovely boy" who had never gone off on his own before.

"He's a nice lad, he comes and talks to you and shows you his toys."

Map showing location of alleged attack
The attack took place close to a medical centre near Dewsbury

At a news conference on Wednesday afternoon Det Supt Andy Brennan of West Yorkshire Police said Anthony had "marks around his neck that could be consistent with ligature marks".

"The victim is a five-year-old child who has suffered some serious injuries, which is why those arrested last night were arrested for attempted murder," he said.

"He's got a number of bruises to his body. He has marks around his neck which could be consistent with ligature marks - there are marks which cause me concern."

He said police were first contacted at 1800 BST on Tuesday by a member of the public, who had been approached by the victim.

"Clearly, the boy was very distressed and he had obvious injuries," said Mr Brennan.

Items recovered

It is not clear if Anthony had been abducted or not. Police said they are not ruling anything out at this stage.

The boy is being interviewed by specially trained officers and police confirmed a number of items had been recovered from the scene.

None of the children being questioned is related to Anthony, police said.

One of the children was arrested on Tuesday night and three were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday.

The fifth child, a 12-year-old boy, was taken in for questioning during the day on Wednesday.