Candle-lit vigil to be held in Leeds for 16-year-old Brianna Ghey after fatal stabbing

The teenager, from Birchwood in Warrington, Cheshire, was found by members of the public as she lay wounded on a path in Linear Park, Culcheth, at around 3.13pm on Saturday. A boy and a girl, both aged 15, have been arrested on suspicion of her murder and remain in custody, Cheshire Police said.

A GoFundMe crowdfunding page set up to help Brianna’s family has passed £67,000 in donations just one day after it was set up.

The victim, who had a large following on social media site TikTok, was a transgender girl but police said there is no evidence to suggest her death was a hate crime.

In the coming days, vigils organised by members of the transgender community are due to be held in cities such as London, Glasgow, Leeds and Belfast – with events in Liverpool and Bristol due to take place on Tuesday evening. In a tribute issued after Brianna’s death on behalf of her family, they said the teenager was a “much-loved daughter, granddaughter, and baby sister”.

The statement continued: “She was a larger-than-life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her. Brianna was beautiful, witty and hilarious. Brianna was strong, fearless and one of a kind.

“The loss of her young life has left a massive hole in our family, and we know that the teachers and her friends who were involved in her life will feel the same.”

A number of police vans and cars were seen parked in the surrounding area after the incident, with a number of uniformed officers patrolling the park. A large section of the area was cordoned off by police tape, and police dogs were also seen at the scene.

The headteacher at Brianna’s school, Birchwood Community High School, said they were “shocked and truly devastated” by her death. A number of schoolchildren, still in their school uniforms, placed flowers at the police cordon at the entrance to the park on Monday.