Two masked men forced their way into a family home in Leicestershire and attacked a 15-year-old boy and his father, leaving both in a life-threatening condition in hospital.
The “completely unprovoked” attack happened just before 12.30am on Thursday at a house in Station Road, Thurnby, Leicestershire Police said.
Officers were called in the early hours of Thursday morning after a report that two masked men had entered the property and attacked the people inside.
Armed officers were sent to the scene, the force said, but the masked men had already left by the time they arrived.
The teenage boy and his father, a man in his 50s, remain in hospital in a life-threatening condition following the assault.
Police say the attack appears to have been a “completely unprovoked” attack.
The boy’s mother and the man’s wife, a woman in her 40s, suffered minor injuries to her hand and shoulder during the incident.
She has since been discharged from hospital.
Three other children who were in the house were not injured.
Detective Inspector Lorna Granville, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), said the attack appears to have been “completely unprovoked” and officers were trying to understand the motive of the attack.
She said: “This was a violent attack against a family in their own home which appears to have been completely unprovoked.
“Our investigation to understand what happened and why – and identify those behind such a horrific criminal act – is going to continue over the weekend.
“I’m making a direct appeal to people in Thurnby and the surrounding communities to come forward with any information if they haven’t already done so.
“We owe it to the victims to locate the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“I’d like to speak to anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, unusual or untoward in the area of Station Road and Somerby Road between 11pm on Wednesday and the early hours of yesterday morning.
“This includes anyone who was driving in the area and captured anything on a dashcam or anyone with CCTV or doorbell footage.
“Anything you’re able to provide, no matter how insignificant you think it might be, could help us.”
The boy and his father were assaulted in their own home, and both remain in hospital.
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