Update: A teenage boy was stabbed in Hitchin at the weekend after an 18th birthday party ended in shocking violence, understood to be gang-related.

A youngsters' party in our town on Saturday evening turned to tragedy, resulting in a police helicopter, a dog unit, and a considerable number of police cars and officers called to an address at Common Rise, near Hitchin Railway Station, after the teen was stabbed.

Hitchin Nub News understands a group of young men, sinisterly clad in balaclavas and black clothing gatecrashed the party, which had been peaceful until that point.

It is believed that the gang specifically travelled to the party from Stevenage in a bid to stake their claim as 'top dogs' in the area.

Nub News spoke to an eye-witness at the party under condition of anonymity to find out more.

This is what the person told us:

"Me and my friends got told about an open invite party so we decided to go, it was ********* party for her 18th.

"We got there and already it was so packed you could barely move as well as so many people in the garden.

"We decided to go outside and meet up with other people and that's when things went wrong.

"A group of boys walked in a line, all with balaclavas and black clothing on and had picked up a pitchfork of some sort from the garden.

"The vibe was so eerie you could tell something bad was about to happen. They walked down to the bottom of the garden and that's when we saw commotion, with the boys kicking and stabbing a boy with the pitchfork.

"I heard one of them had a machete but that might've been a rumour."

Herts Police confirmed to Hitchin Nub News: "It was reported that a group of males had attended an address and a fight involving various weapons had ensued, resulting in people sustaining injuries."

The eyewitness continued: "I didn't see much but everyone just ran but because it was so packed people were falling over. It was chaos.

"Then everyone went outside and we saw the boys run out. I don't know what direction they went in, but the police and ambulance were called straight away. There was a helicopter and ambulances as well.

"We all left asap because we didn't want to be involved and throughout our night we just saw police cars roaming the streets probably looking for the boys.

"I can still hear the sounds of people running and screaming, which is sticking with me."

Nub News understood the teenage boy is recovering. It is also understood that a Hitchin school teacher living nearby attended the scene to help and that Hitchin secondary schools are aware of the incident.

Nub News also understands that police blocked off Walsworth Road between Tesco and the Radcliffe Arms on Saturday evening in a bid to apprehend the gang. It is not believed there have been any arrests at the time of writing.

Herts Police also told Hitchin Nub News: "Police were called at around 9.30pm on Saturday [February 25] following a disturbance in Common Rise, Hitchin

The offenders then left the scene, as well as the injured parties.

"Officers attended and a search of the area was carried out, with assistance from the dog unit and police helicopter.

"Two males later presented at hospital with injuries which are believed to have been sustained during the incident. They are not being treated as life changing or threatening.

"Enquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances around what happened and to trace those involved.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact police."

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