A 14-year-old boy is fighting for his life in hospital after being stabbed outside a mosque in a suspected racially motivated attack after his father had dropped him off to attend a youth event.

Witnesses say the schoolboy was repeatedly stabbed in the neck and head as his brother watched on.

The attack happened outside the Idara Maarif-e-Islam Hussainia Mosque in Small Heath, Birmingham, at around 1am on Saturday.

The centre was hosting an event for around 200 children at the time.

The boy was left with several stab wounds and was taken to hospital by paramedics after suffering life-threatening injuries. He remains in a critical condition.

Mosque leaders believe the attack was "racially motivated".

Adnan Khan, information secretary for the mosque, said: "This is the biggest event in the Shiah calendar.

"We believe this was a racist attack and the young lad was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"We had been advised about security and now have knife scanners at the entrance to the halls, but obviously nothing in the street.

"We believe they were lying in wait for someone to attack."

Police have arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder.