Two boys were arrested today in connection with an incident in which another youngster suffered life-threatening petrol burns.
Staffordshire Police said the boys, aged 13 and 14, were detained on suspicion of assault by detectives investigating an incident in which Jordan Lawrence suffered critical injuries.
A force spokesman said the boys had been freed on police bail pending further inquiries into how Jordan came by his injuries. The 13-year-old, from Carmountside, Stoke-on-Trent, remains in a critical but stable condition in Birmingham Children's Hospital after suffering severe burns on Friday at the site of a former school.
He underwent several hours of surgery at Birmingham Children's Hospital at the weekend after suffering 40% burns while with other boys in the Leek Road area of Carmountside.
Staffordshire Police also released a short statement on behalf of Jordan's mother. Appealing for local police to assist the police inquiry, Samantha Lawrence said: "Before this incident Jordan was a happy, outgoing boy who'd just turned 13 and loved listening to music and playing computer games.
"I am upset and angry and want to know exactly what happened to him on Friday night - please contact the police if you have any information."
Detective Sergeant Gary Evans, who is investigating the incident, said officers were keen to hear from anyone else with information who had yet to make contact.
