Stabbed youth: 'I'm an innocent victim'

The teenager in a Shrewsbury stabbing today said he was an innocent victim in an unprovoked attack and denied claims of a pre-arranged fight between gangs.

Speaking for the first time about his ordeal, Ryan Allis-Smith said he was stabbed in the back twice by his attackers when he tried to defend his friend.

His comments came as police said two more people had been arrested in connection with the incident.

The 17-year-old A-Level student, speaking from his hospital bed in Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital revealed how he had to undergo surgery for his stab wounds.

Ryan, of Belle Vue, Shrewsbury, who is studying at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College said: "Down Castle Walk on Tuesday my friend was attacked.

"At the start there was only one of them, but the attackers friends got involved so I also got involved along with others, which is how I ended up getting stabbed."

Ryan said the attack was totally unprovoked and he and his friends did not know their attackers, but have since been told they were from Telford.

Ryan refuted claims that a gang from Telford and a gang from Shrewsbury had pre-arranged the fight.

Feuds

He said: "Contrary to any reports the fight was not planned and was not a gang feud as has been previously suggested."

Ryan said he and his friends were just "hanging around" in the Castle Walk area when an unknown youth approached his friend.

He said his friend suffered cuts and bruises in the attack but did not need hospital treatment.

Ryan was air-lifted to hospital after the stabbing at 6.20pm on Tuesday and surgeons stitched his two stab wounds on Wednesday morning. He said doctors have told him he should make a full recovery.

Ryan said he hoped to be discharged from hospital this afternoon and would have his stitches removed in two weeks.

Police officers scoured the scene around the Castle Walk footbridge and cornered off the area while police dogs searched the scene.

Four people were arrested in the hours after the attack on suspicion of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and were released on police bail pending further police enquiries.

Police spokesman Richard Ewels today said two more youths had been arrested.

He said: "One was arrested yesterday and after being questioned was given police bail pending further inquiries. The other was arrested this morning and is in custody at Shrewsbury Police Station."

EXCLUSIVE By Crime Correspondent Kirsty Smallman