A man in his 30s stumbled into an Iceland supermarket in Liverpool after being stabbed outside around 5pm last night. It came four hours before another stabbing three miles away
The victim of the supermarket attack is believed to have undergone surgery and is not in a life threatening condition.
A woman who was out shopping in the busy Halewood complex said of the first attack: ‘He went in the shop and was shouting for help.
‘Staff rushed to help him and called an ambulance. Police arrived at the same time.’
Another female shopper woman who says she knows the victim told the Liverpool today: ‘It is getting out of hand, kids witnessing this.
‘I haven’t seen the family for a few years but no-body deserves that. Knives ruin lives.
‘I wont even allow my 13-year-old old over the door, I take him and pick him up from school, much to his dismay.
‘It’s a terrifying time to live in Liverpool. Gang culture, bullying of school kids, kids dealing drugs; where did parents get it so wrong? Lack of discipline and lenient sentences.’
Another shopper said it was ‘shocking’ how brazen the assault was at the busy shopping complex at such a busy time of the evening.
Large police cordon in place after 16-year-old is stabbed
A North West Ambulance Service spokesman told MailOnline they were called to the scene and found the victim with a ‘single stab wound and serious bleeding’ before rushing him to Aintree Hospital.
A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: ‘We are appealing for information following the stabbing of a man in Halewood this afternoon, Tuesday, 3 July.
‘Officers were called to Halewood Shopping Centre, Leathers Lane at 4.50pm to reports a man in his 30’s had been stabbed in the torso.
‘The victim has been taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries. His condition is currently being assessed.
‘Officers remain in the area to carry out CCTV, witness and forensic enquiries to establish the full circumstances and locate those responsible.’
Detective Inspector Neil Fletcher added: ‘The investigation is in its very early stages but this incident occurred in a busy shopping centre at a busy time of day and I am keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed it.
‘I want to make it clear that Merseyside Police will not tolerate the use of knives to cause harm and the force is absolutely committed to eradicating knife crime and alongside our partners, we will continue to educate, enforce and act on any information given to us, to make the streets safer.’
A murder investigation has been launched (scene pictured) after a 16-year-old boy was stabbed and later died in hospital in Belle Vale Road, Liverpool
A murder investigation has been launched after the second victim died in hospital around midnight last night.
Extensive police cordons remained in place over night as officers searched the area. No arrests have yet been made.
A man living near to the lines of police tape told the Liverpool Echo : ‘I was watching the match but became aware something had happened when all the police arrived. It is getting worse, it’s terrible for something like this to happen just outside.
‘I’m not sure if the lad was local or anything.’
Neighbour Darcy Hartley, 74, said she heard raised voices outside at about 9pm.
She said: ‘I was just watching the game and I heard the noise. It sounded like a large group of boys. Then a lot of police turned up.
‘I walk my dog every day and I usually see boys smoking in the path which leads to the park. Sometimes they fight amongst each other.’
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I only realised something was happening when I saw police and paramedics.
‘It was just near the end of the match, before the penalties. I went out and had a look and could see the lad being treated by paramedics just over the road.
‘It’s terrible, it seems to be getting worse. Life is cheap these days, with people carrying knives around.’
Murder scene: Belle Vale Road where a boy, 16, was fatally stabbed was cordoned off by police as night fell yesterday
Another person living nearby told the newspaper the attack happened ‘around the same time Colombia equalised against England’ in last night’s World Cup clash.
Detective Chief Inspector Bev Hyland said: ‘We are in the very early stages of our investigation into this tragic incident in which a young life has been taken.
‘We are working to try and establish exactly what happened last night.
‘I want to appeal to anyone who saw the incident itself, or anything suspicious in the vicinity of Belle Vale Road, and the park opposite Woodholme Court, to come forward.
‘We also want to appeal to anybody who stopped to assist and may not have yet spoken to police, and anyone passing through Belle Vale Road who may have dash-cam footage.’