A frightening incident at Camp Hill Park in Stevenage has left local residents shaken after a young teenager was chased by a group of boys armed with a knife while families were present in the area.
Chloe Loizou, a local mum who was at the park with her children at the time, witnessed the terrifying scene unfold in front of her.
She described seeing between seven and ten boys, aged roughly 14 to 17, sprinting from the woodland area toward the main road. Initially, she thought the group was just messing around, but it quickly became clear that something far more serious was happening.
“At first I thought they were mucking around but I saw the first boy running and his shoe had come off, to me it looked like he was running for his life,” Chloe wrote in a post to the Stevenage and Surrounding Areas Facebook group.
She collected the shoe and waited at the scene. Around 30 minutes later, the boy returned with two friends to retrieve it.
When Chloe asked if he was okay, he told her the group had ganged up on him and chased him with a shank. He had narrowly escaped what could have been a very serious assault.
Police Called to the Scene
Another community member, Anonnnnn1234519, confirmed that the incident was reported to the authorities. “My younger brother was there and he witnessed the whole thing. My mum did call the police and they was out within 10 mins of the phone call and took statements. Absolutely disgusting behaviour,” they commented.
The swift police response was reassuring to many in the community, though residents remain deeply concerned about the safety of the park, which sits close to a primary school.
Community Reacts with Anger and Concern
The post sparked a wave of responses from local residents, many of whom expressed frustration and sadness over the growing issue of youth violence in the area.
Lisa Huggins urged Chloe to come forward as a witness, drawing on her own heartbreaking experience.
“My neighbours son was stabbed to death in Stevenage just for walking to his car after prom minding his business and the person who did this had intelligence around him regarding his behaviour,” she wrote, highlighting how witness testimony can make a real difference in serious cases.
Robert Clark sympathised with Chloe and suggested the incident be reported so police could increase patrols.
“Sorry that you had to witness that, have you notified the police as they could possibly put on more patrols in the area,” he commented.
Not everyone kept their emotions in check. BrilliantArugula9766 was blunt in their frustration, questioning why the incident was posted on Facebook rather than reported to police immediately, while also noting how unsettling it is when people share alarming posts without following up.
Chloe ended her post on a deeply human note, reflecting on the reality many young people face. She wrote that regardless of the story behind what happened, she simply hopes the boy is doing okay because, at the end of the day, he is somebody’s child.
Anyone with information relating to this incident is encouraged to contact Hertfordshire Constabulary.
