Five children have been arrested over the murder of an 80-year-old man who was attacked in a Leicestershire park.
The victim, who was walking his dog in Braunstone Town, was seriously assaulted on Sunday and died in hospital last night.
A boy and a girl, both 14, and two girls and a boy, all aged 12, are being questioned by police.
The attack happened near the entrance to Franklin Park in Bramble Way at about 6.30pm.
The victim is believed to have been wearing a black jumper and grey jogging bottoms and police said the attackers left before emergency services arrived.
The man’s daughter told LeicestershireLive on Monday that she found him lying on the ground after hearing something outside her house.
She said he was “seconds” from home when the attack happened.
“He was lying under the tree and at first he was complaining about his neck and now he’s not able to move his legs,” she said.
The woman – who did not give her name – said her father had been taken to a Nottingham hospital with spinal injuries and was due to have surgery.
Braunstone Town is about 2.5 miles (4km) southwest of Leicester city centre.
Police are still working at the scene and have appealed for witnesses.
“We still need people who were in the area to come forward if they have seen anything or have any information which could assist,” said Detective Inspector Emma Matts.
“Were you in the area of Franklin Park or Bramble Way around 6.30pm on Sunday night?
“Did you see the attack itself? From the description given did you see the victim before the incident or possibly a group of young people leaving the area after?”
Police said “reassurance patrols” are taking place in the area.
Due to prior contact with the victim, Leicestershire Police said it was also referring itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC).
