A man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of two 17-year-old boys and the attempted murders of two other males at a house party in Milton Keynes, in what detectives believe was a targeted attack.

The 21-year-old, whom Thames Valley police have not named but who comes from Milton Keynes, was arrested on Monday evening and remains in custody.

“The arrest is in connection with an incident in Archford Croft, Emerson Valley, Milton Keynes at 11.59pm on Saturday, when officers were called to a report of a stabbing,” the force said.

“A 17-year-old boy died of his injuries at the scene. A second boy, also 17, was taken to hospital where he also sadly died.”

Although formal identification of those who died has not yet taken place, the victims have been named locally as close friends Dom Ansah and Ben Gillham-Rice.

A 17-year-old boy and a 23-year-old man who also suffered knife wounds were taken to hospital after the attack with injuries deemed serious, though not life-threatening. The 17-year-old has since been discharged from hospital and the 23-year-old is recovering well, detectives have said.

Police have said the 15 to 20 people attending a birthday party, believed to have been held by a girl who lived in the house, were all known to each other.

Investigating officers believe the attackers were also known to the group, but that they arrived at the party uninvited, armed and wearing face coverings, before carrying out a series of stabbings.

Police, including specialist forensics officers, expect to remain on the scene for days yet and have increased patrols in the local area.

Formal identification of both victims and a Home Office postmortem examination are expected to take place on Tuesday.