SUSPECTED STABBING AND FLAT FIRE MAY BE LINKED
POLICE RESCUE ONE FROM HOME
POLICE believe a suspected stabbing and a fire in a flat on a neighbouring estate may be linked.
One man was taken to hospital after being found in Eldon Street, in the city centre, with “puncture wounds” in the early hours of Sunday .
While investigating the incident, officers attended a property in Ottawa Road, St Matthew’s, where they discovered the flat fire.
A spokesman for the police said: “At about 3am, officers were approached by a man in Eldon Street who had sustained a number of puncture wounds.
“Following inquiries carried out in connection with the assault, officers attended an address in Ottawa Road a short time after, to discover a flat fire.
“Inside the flat was a man who was rescued from the property by officers and is uninjured.
“The fire has since been extinguished by the fire service, having caused substantial damage.
“As a result of their assistance, three officers are being treated at hospital as a precaution for smoke inhalation.”
“The injured man remained in hospital yesterday, where he was said to be in a stable condition.”
A 40-year-old Leicester man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent.
A 26-year-old Leicester man has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger fire.
They both remained in police custody yesterday.
A number of flats in the same block had to be evacuated as emergency services responded to the incident.
A fire service spokesman said: “We received a call from the police reporting a flat fire at 3.39am.
“On arrival, it was confirmed that a fire was located in a bedroom of a first-floor flat in the three-storey building.
“Cadent was requested due to the smell of gas and residents of a neighbouring flat were evacuated as a precaution.
“Five residents suffered slight smoke inhalation and were treated by East Midlands Ambulance Service at the scene.”
Emergency services were still at the scene of the fire yesterday and Ottawa Road remained closed, according to police.
The police spokesman said: “Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding what happened and anyone with information is asked to contact us.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the police 101 number or get in touch using the force website.