• Lilia Valutyte was discovered with a stab wound on Fountain Lane in Boston, Lincolnshire.
• Police have released CCTV images of a man they want to interview in connection with her death.
• They advise people not to approach the man and instead to “immediately phone 999”.

Police have released CCTV photographs of a man they “urgently” want to interview in connection with the death of a nine-year-old child stabbed in a town centre.

On Thursday, Lilia Valutyte was discovered with a stab wound on Fountain Lane in Boston.

Lincolnshire Police advised people not to approach the man and instead to “immediately phone 999.”

Two people who had previously been arrested in connection with the incident have been released with no further action taken.

“These are extremely clear photos of a man we want to speak to,” said Chief Supt Martyn Parker. “I’d urge anyone with information to contact us.”

“This is a particularly tragic case and I’d like to reassure the public that we have a huge amount of resources dedicated to the investigation.”

Mr Parker added: “We continue to provide support to the family of Lilia, as they grieve following this unimaginable loss.”

According to police, the CCTV photos were taken on Thursday at 18:15 BST in the Wormgate and Fountain Lane area.

Officers have asked anyone with dashcam, CCTV, or cell phone footage of the suspect to come forward.

People are being advised to contact the police department or offer information through its major incident webpage.

According to witnesses, Lilia had been playing with a hula hoop with her younger sister on the street, and a toy pram had been left at the site.

Dozens of flowers and other tributes have been left at the corner of Fountain Lane and Fountain Place in memory of the schoolgirl.

People have also gathered at a nearby church to light candles.

Reverend Jane Robertson stated that the community had gathered at St Botolph’s Church to meditate on what had occurred.

Father-of-five Mark Gostelow stated that he wished to light a candle in memory of Lilia.

“It’s horrible; I have children, so it hits home for me,” he remarked.

“It tears your heart because you’re thinking all of her nine-year-old existence has been wiped away in one night,” said Jerena Tyler, who also went to the church to pay her respects.

“People feel they can’t do anything, but they want to do something,” Reverend Robertson remarked.

“The church offers a space for people to come in and do something and actually do something tangible, even if it’s to sit and say why or to feel anger or frustration or that awful sense of this is wrong.”

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