Two schoolboys interviewed in connection with the attempted murder of 13-year-old Harrogate boy Ashley Murray were released last night, police revealed today.

But Harrogate officers investigating the stabbing of Ashley, who was found after spending 36 hours lying in the freezing cold at the bottom Birk Crag, today said they expected the boys would be brought back in for questioning once the results of forensic tests were known.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Allan of Harrogate Police today said that Ashley's own account of events would be crucial in directing inquiries, but said the 13-year-old was still extremely unwell.

"Two detectives were sent across to Leeds General Infirmary yesterday because doctors had said we could speak to Ashley," said DCI Allan. "But speaking to someone and conducting a police interview are two very different things and it just wasn't practical to get any information from him at this stage.

"I talked to his parents for about two hours and we decided on a course of action that really lets them get on with getting him better and we will continue our inquiries in due course."

Detectives revealed they were looking for more than one weapon in connection with the brutal attack.

Ashley has multiple stab wounds all over his body and yesterday went into shock while tests and X-rays were being done at the Leeds hospital.

His parents are at his bedside, as are two Harrogate police officers. "He is by no means out of the woods yet - not by a long way," said DCI Allan.

"It is very unlikely we will be able to obtain a full account from Ashley for a number of days.

"Yesterday we collected a considerable number of articles in the Birk Crag area which has been submitted for forensic examination.

"The two juveniles are not on police bail but when forensic results are known and Ashley's account is available to us we would expect to speak to them at some later date."

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