Boy, 16, who was stabbed to death in the street was killed as part of a revenge attack by a gang of youths who followed him home, police believe

A boy of 16 who was stabbed to death in the street was killed as part of a revenge attack by a gang of youths, police believe. As he walked home, Kennie Carter was followed and then pounced on by a group wearing hoods and Covid masks on Stretford's Lakes estate at 7pm on Saturday, January 22.

He was stabbed in the chest and died later in hospital. As police released CCTV of a cyclist who they believe could be a key witness, the detective who is leading the investigation told the M.E.N. how the fatal stabbing was the culmination of a series of tit-for-tat incidents between two rival groups.

So far police have arrested 14 youths on suspicion of murder, aged between 12 and 17. Ten of the young suspects remain on police bail.

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Detective Chief Inspector Alicia Smith, in an interview with the M.E.N, revealed there had been a number of 'precursor incidents' between two rival groups in the days before the fatal stabbing. The night before Kennie was killed, the two groups had been involved in a fight in Stretford, said the detective.

Some of his friends had been involved in the altercation with the rival group, although detectives do not believe Kennie was involved. The rival group is said to have returned to a block of flats in Stretford the next day, in the hours before the stabbing, to seek revenge on Kennie's pals.

Believing the gang had left the block of flats, police say Kennie thought it was safe to leave and head home on his own. He was unaware the gang had not left the area and followed him as he made his way to the The Lakes estate.

The youths pounced on Kennie on Thirlmere Avenue. Police say the