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The parents of a seven-year-old girl witnessed her being stabbed to death in a random attack by a stranger in a public park in Bolton, police have said.

The suspect, a 30-year-old woman, was detained under the Mental Health Act on Monday, following the incident in Queen's Park, Bolton, at around 2.30pm on Sunday.

Police also praised the bravery of a member of the public who detained a woman suspected of stabbing the girl.

The heroic witness stepped in after the horrific incident in Queen’s Park, Bolton, yesterday at around 2.30pm.

Police subsequently arrested the woman on suspicion of murder and she was later detained under the Mental Health Act.

(Image: Phil Taylor / SWNS)

Assistant Chief Constable Rush Jackson, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "It is hard to describe how terrible this incident was.

"The attack happened in front of the parents of this little girl, who had taken her out yesterday afternoon to enjoy the spring sun and play in the park.

"Having seen this horrendous attack, a member of the public bravely chased after the woman and detained her until police arrived and arrested her.

"I would like to thank him for his actions which enabled us to quickly arrest her and prevent anything else from happening.

(Image: Phil Taylor / SWNS)

"The woman arrested yesterday at the scene of the attack on the little girl in Bolton has now been detained under the Mental Health Act.

"We have informed the family of the woman's detention.

"They are understandably distraught over what happened yesterday and we will continue to support them with family liaison officers in the coming months."

Mr Jackson added: "Several officers who attended the park were very young in service in the police, some with only weeks on independent police patrol.

"They and all the officers who went to the scene are incredibly upset over what has happened and all of us have this little girl and her family in our thoughts.

"I want to stress that this is not an end to the criminal investigation. We will consider the evidence and consult with the Crown Prosecution Service and, if appropriate, we will be seeking criminal charges."

The girl, whom police have not yet identified, suffered "extremely serious injuries" and died a short time later.

Police officers stood guard on an area of the park cordoned off by "Crime scene - do not enter" tape as forensic investigations continued.

The area is a couple of hundred yards from a children's play area.

(Image: MEN Media)

On Monday morning, the park was bathed in sunshine but almost deserted except for dog walkers, though tributes of flowers and teddy bears had been left at park gates and at a tree on the edge of the cordon.

A card from Heaton Preschool, signed by "Auntie Shelley, Jodi, Becki and Auntie Laura", read: "Good night princess, fly high! Always in our thoughts."

A teddy bear and flowers were left beside the card, with two more teddies and flowers left inside the park.

Neither the girl or the woman detained under the Mental Health Act has been named by police.

(Image: ASP)

Kyra Coop was in the park at the time of the incident.

She told the Manchester Evening News she saw two police officers running across the park as fast as they could.

”Then we saw the big ambulance hovering over and landing," she said.

(Image: ASP)

”You know when you see that it is something serious.

”Then a girl ran over and said a little girl had been stabbed.

"The police started coming round and asking everyone to leave, and that’s what we did.

Ms Coop was shaken up by the incident, she said.

“We had to reassure the kids as they were really upset.”

Another witness said: "There's around 10 police cars I can see.

"It's a really heavy police presence. Both main entrances to the park are closed and it looks like the entire park has been cordoned off.

"There's around 10 officers guarding one entrance. There's a bit of a crowd of people forming as well."