A teenager has been arrested after the death of a seven-year-old girl.
Police are questioning the 15-year-old girl after officers were called to an address in Woodthorpe, York, and found the victim nearby with life-threatening injuries.
The girl was taken to hospital but died a short time later, North Yorkshire Police said.
The identity of the victim has not been released, though a card left at the scene by her grandparents was addressed to “Katie”.
The little girl was allegedly stabbed twice, according to a source who spoke to The Sun.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “My partner was told by the nurse that treated her that she was stabbed twice.”
One witness described seeing the victim’s mother on her knees crying in the road shortly after the incident.
She told Sky News: “I arrived in my car behind the mother. I wasn’t quite sure what was going on, it wasn’t until I spoke to the police that I found out.
“The mother was on her knees in the middle of the road, crying and saying things. It was quite distressing.”
Members of the York North Safer Neighbourhood team tweeted: “Difficult and tragic shift. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the parents and family involved as well as colleagues who did all they could.”
A force spokesman said: “Police were called shortly after 4.30pm on Monday January 9 to an address in Alness Drive in York.
“Officers attended and, upon visiting a scene nearby, they found a seven-year-old girl with life-threatening injuries.
“An ambulance attended and the girl was taken to York District Hospital, where she sadly died a short time later.
“A 15-year-old girl has been arrested in connection with the incident. She remains in police custody for questioning.
“Officers remain at the scene while the investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death of the girl continues.”