Three teenagers have been arrested following the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Thomas Taylor near Bedford bus station on Wednesday evening.

Attack and Investigation

• Thomas Taylor was attacked by a group of males at approximately 5:50 PM as he walked along Greenhill Street.
• Emergency services rushed him to hospital, but he tragically died from his injuries.
• Bedfordshire Police have arrested two 18-year-olds and a 17-year-old on Friday, 10 January, in connection with the murder.

Fourth Arrest and Ongoing Inquiry

• A fourth suspect, a man in his 60s, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of assisting an offender. He has since been bailed pending further inquiries.

Tributes to Thomas Taylor

“A Popular and Respected Student”

Thomas’s headteacher, Chris Deller of Bedford Academy, described him as a well-liked and respected student who had recently progressed to sixth form.

“We are deeply upset and shocked to hear the sad news that a Bedford Academy student has lost their life.

Thomas was a popular, well-liked, and respected lad who finished Year 11 with a strong set of results before moving on to sixth form.

Our focus now is on supporting his family through this incredibly difficult period, while also helping students and the wider community come to terms with such a tragic loss.”

Floral Tributes at the Scene

Following Thomas’s death, floral tributes have been left near Greenhill Street, close to Bedford bus station, as friends, family, and the community mourn his loss.

Police Response and Reassurance

Detective Inspector Richard Stott, Major Crime Unit:

“This is an absolutely shocking incident in which a teenage boy has lost his life to knife crime and serious youth violence.

We want to reassure the wider community that officers are pursuing all lines of inquiry and carrying out increased patrols in the surrounding area.”

Community Outrage Over Youth Knife Crime

Thomas’s death has sparked concern over youth violence and the rising issue of knife crime in Bedfordshire. Residents and local leaders are calling for urgent action to tackle gang-related crime and knife possession among young people.

Appeal for Information

Detectives are urging anyone with information, CCTV footage, or dashcam recordings to come forward.

• Call 101, quoting incident reference
• Message @BedfordshirePolice on X (formerly Twitter)
• Contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111

Ongoing Investigation

Police continue to question the arrested teenagers, and further updates will follow as the investigation into Thomas Taylor’s murder progresses.