Four stabbings and three people mowed down in bleak two days on Merseyside

Four people have been stabbed and three people mowed down by cars after a bleak two days on Merseyside. On December 27 the city centre was a zigzag of cordons after a mass brawl, which began at the Safe House Nightclub on Victoria Street. In the brawl a 21-year-old was stabbed in the heart[1] and was found by police at the junction of Church Street and Whitechapel at around 5.30am.

He was taken to hospital in a critical condition, where he remained as of last night. Two other men were also injured in the incident and made their own way to hospital. These included a 21-year-old who had been stabbed in the back, and a 23-year-old who suffered a cut to the head.

Chief Superintendent Zoe Thornton, head of local policing for Liverpool, said: "Clearly this is a really serious incident that took place this morning (December 27), which has left three people with knife injuries. We believe it to have taken place in a licensed premises on Victoria Street and spilled out onto Peter Street and further onto Whitechapel. "It was quite a significant event involving a lot of people, and we are making that appeal for witnesses to come forward to us or to Crimestoppers anonymously.

If anyone has seen any injured males, or anyone who may feel not quite right about something they have seen, we want them to speak to us. If people have got dashboard cameras, we would like people to really have a look." Following the attack a section 60 order was put in place in the area, giving police enhanced stop and search powers.

The order will run until 3pm today, and covers Leeds Street, King Edward Street, New Quay, George's Dock Gates, Strand Street, Liver Street, Argyle Street, Lydia Ann Street, Kent Street, Duke Street, Berry Street, Renshaw Street, Lime Street, St Georges Place, St Johns Lane and Byrom Street. Not long after the triple stabbing, in Maghull[4], a cyclist was struck by a car in a hit-and-run. The man in his 50s, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after the crash on Northway, close to the Shell petrol station, at around 6.55am.

Merseyside Police[5] later said officers had arrested a 49-year-old man from the Southport[6] area on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision and failing to report a road traffic collision. In a shocking turn of events, at the same incident, a Merseyside police officer was hit by a car while responding to the hit and run. The police officer[7] was taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries, which police said were not thought to be life-threatening. Officers confirmed the driver of the car, a man in his 60s, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs.

In a separate incident another cyclist sustained a serious leg injury[8] after being hit by a BMW at around at around 12.25pm on Stanley Road at the junction of Merton Road, in Bootle[9]. The road was closed as police and paramedics were called to the scene, and the cyclist was taken to hospital by air ambulance. The ECHO understands no arrests have been made as of yet in connection with the incident.

These three incidents come the day after another stabbing[10], which happened on Boxing Day, when a man in his 30s was attacked inside a house on New Chester Road, Rock Ferry[11].

Police were called to the scene at around 1.40pm on December, 26, after the man suffered stab wounds to both legs and a slash injury to the shoulder in what officers said was a "targeted attack". He was taken to hospital with what was described as "non-life threatening injuries". One witness said she saw the man being "carried out on a stretcher covered in white blankets".

Detective inspector Emma Kerrigan said: "At this stage it appears the man was assaulted inside a property. We are carrying out house-to-house enquiries and speaking to neighbours to build a fuller picture of what has taken place. "CCTV enquiries are also being carried out and we are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of New Chester Road who saw or heard anything or has any information which could assist our enquiries to contact us."

Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference number 23001320846.

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References

1. ^ 21-year-old was stabbed in the heart (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
2. ^ Man fighting for life after multiple stabbings in city centre (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^ These are the faces of 505 Merseyside criminals who were jailed during 2023 (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
4. ^ Maghull (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
5. ^ Merseyside Police (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
6. ^ Southport (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
7. ^ The police officer (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
8. ^ In a separate incident another cyclist sustained a serious leg injury (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
9. ^ Bootle (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
10. ^ day after another stabbing (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
11. ^ Rock Ferry (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
12. ^ Try Liverpool Echo Premium for 99p with no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)