A murder investigation is under way after a boy believed to be 17 or 18 years old became the third teenager in a fortnight to be stabbed to death in Birmingham.

The boy was found seriously injured in Norwood Road, Bordesley Green, and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 2pm on Monday, West Midlands police said.

The force said: “The investigation is at an early stage and no arrests have yet been made. Officers are speaking to witnesses and identifying CCTV. The scene remains sealed off this evening.

“Officers will also be using section 60 powers, giving them the ability to stop and search people without reasonable grounds where they believe there to be a risk of violence.”

Nazir Afzal, the former chief prosecutor in Greater Manchester who oversaw the Rochdale child sex abuse case, said the victim was one of his relatives.

Sadly, my sister-in-laws nephew,18, was stabbed to death today in Birmingham



With Brexit:

is anyone paying attention to double figure murders in Bham this yr



London is much safer proportionately



Where’s the outrage?

Why do our children have to die?https://t.co/7PX1LvN4Dv — nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) February 25, 2019

So far in 2019, West Midlands police are believed to have launched seven confirmed murder investigations in the force area.

Last Wednesday, 16-year-old Abdullah Muhammad was discovered fatally wounded near a park in Small Heath.

Another 16-year-old, Sidali Mohamed, died in hospital on 15 February after being attacked outside a college in Balsall Heath.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police online, on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.