14-year-old boy killed in 'brutal' cemetery attack

The body of a 14-year-old boy has been found in a cemetery in Carlisle with multiple wounds to the head and neck.

Jordan Watson was the victim of a "savage and brutal" attack, police said after completing a post-mortem examination. The boy's body was found in Upperby Cemetery, next to St John The Baptist Church in the south of the city early this morning.

Detectives said that for a child to die in such circumstances was "appalling". Police patrols have been increased across Carlisle, the BBC reports.

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Andrew Slattery, Detective Superintendent of Cumbria Constabulary, said: "Jordan has lost his life as a result of a savage and brutal attack which has shocked the officers working on the case. For a child to die in these circumstances in Carlisle is appalling.

"The offender or offenders must be apprehended and I appeal to any members of the public with information to come forward. If anybody heard or saw anything unusual in the area of the cemetery on Manor Road overnight, I would urge them to report it to our incident room."

The vicar at St John The Baptist Church, Reverend Jim Hyslop, said that he first became aware of Jordan Watson's death when he saw police near the cemetery.

He said: "Nothing like this has ever happened in the 20 years I have been at the church. Jordan's body was found in the older part of the cemetery, which has been here since the church was founded in 1840. We haven't been told too much and I've not spoken to many people about what has happened. My thoughts are with his family at this time."

Anyone with information should contact police by calling 101 and asking to speak to an officer from North Cumbria CID.