Three investigations are ongoing, Greater Manchester Police have said
Police at the scene of the weekend’s first serious stabbing, in Wigan(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Three men were left fighting for their lives in a weekend of knife crime horror across Greater Manchester. Three separate stabbings took place across the region in less than 48 hours, with each incident leaving the victim in a life-threatening situation.
It began in Wigan on Friday night (May 29). Officers were called out to reports of a knife attack on Avon Road, in the Norley Hall area, at around 8.30pm.
A man was rushed to hospital with serious stab wounds, described as ‘potentially life-threatening’. A cordon was put in place throughout the night.
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Forensics scoured the area for evidence on Saturday morning, examining an item of clothing on the ground and gathering photographic evidence. The man’s condition was described as stable by Saturday lunchtime.
Detective Inspector Jonathan Waywell, from Greater Manchester Police’s Wigan CID, described the incident as a ‘shocking act of violence’ and a ‘targeted attack’ with ‘no wider risk to the public’. No arrests have been made so far and investigations continue.
Forensics gather evidence from the scene of the Avon Road, Wigan stabbing(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
A second major stabbing took place on Great Ducie Street, in the Strangeways area, near Manchester city centre. Officers were called out to reports of a stabbing at 11.32pm on Saturday night.
They arrived on the scene seven minutes later to discover a man in his 30s with stab wounds to his back. He was rushed to Manchester Royal Infirmary with ‘potentially life-threatening’ injuries, where he remains in a serious condition today (Monday).
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A 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault (causing grievous bodily harm with intent) after being found on nearby Barker Street at 11.49pm. GMP says the suspect has since been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Describing the incident as an ‘extremely violent attack’, Chief Inspector Peter Crowe, from GMP’s City of Manchester division, said: “Detectives are working hard to understand the motive behind this attack. However, we do not believe there to be a wider threat to the community.”
Great Ducie Street (stock image)(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Manchester police attended another stabbing in the city on Sunday afternoon. GMP was called out to reports of a man suffering several injuries from a suspected stabbing on Trust Road, in Gorton, at 3.50pm.
The victim, a 23-year-old man, was rushed to hospital for treatment with ‘serious life-threatening injuries’, GMP says. He remains in hospital today.
It’s believed the suspects fled the scene on an electric bike. No arrests have been made so far and enquiries remain ongoing.
Trust Road, Gorton(Image: Google Maps)
Detective Inspector Mark Hodgson, from GMP’s City of Manchester district, said: “This was a shocking incident which could have easily resulted in much more serious consequences – thanks to the prompt response of emergency service colleagues, the man was taken to hospital for treatment. We believe that this was a targeted attack with no risk to the wider public, and our enquiries are continuing at pace to ensure those responsible are located and arrested.”
Enquiries remain ongoing in connection with all three incidents. Following Friday’s stabbing in Wigan, Det Insp Waywell said: “Knife crime is taken extremely seriously and will not be tolerated. Incidents like this have devastating consequences for victims, families, and communities.”
Anyone with information or relevant CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage for any of the three incidents is encouraged to come forward. Details can be passed on to GMP by calling 101 or using the LiveChat tool online. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.