Knife-wielding man held over murder of boy, 4, in Keighley

A suspected attacker was reported to be hiding in a tunnel near the Great Northern pub in Keighley, when armed police sealed off the area at mid morning yesterday.

Mickey Thompson, 42, landlord of the Great Northern, said: “It’s beyond belief that anyone could do something like this.

“I just hope I don’t know the family.”

He said the suspect had been spotted with a knife hiding in the Ingrow Bridge tunnel, which goes underneath the pub. Armed police moved in to search both the tunnel and further along the railway.

Yesterday one woman broke down in tears and had to be comforted by another as she placed a cuddly toy as a tribute at the scene.

The four-year-old has not been named, but several people said yesterday they understood he was a twin.

Police were called to a home in Harewood Road in Oakworth. The boy was taken to Airedale General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police said a 32-year-old man was arrested at an address in the Ingrow area of Keighley yesterday morning.

Neighbours reported seeing armed police walking up and down the road at about 8am.

Audrey Currie, 40, said: “I heard bit of screaming about 3.30am this morning but I didn’t realise it was anything.

“I could hear a man and I 
could definitely hear a lady screaming.

“A friend of mine actually saw the little boy; she saw the man with the boy in his arms.

“She opened her curtains 
and saw him.”