Arrest after park axe attack on dog walker
POLICE INVESTIGATE ‘BRUTAL AND UNPROVOKED’ TARGETED ASSAULT THAT LEFT MAN IN HOSPITAL
FOUR people have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder after a man was savagely attacked with axes as he walked his dog through a park.
Police are investigating claims the incident stemmed from an alleged long-running noisy neighbour dispute which had escalated.
Detectives say the ‘brutal and unprovoked’ attack was targeted and ‘believed to be an isolated incident.’
The 41-year-old victim was left with a severe wound to his head and injuries to his arms and legs following the attack at Buile Hill Park, in Salford, last Wednesday.
He remains in hospital, where his condition is not thought to be lifethreatening.
A 46-year-old man and 28-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder and later released pending further enquiries.
A 27-year-old man and 24-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of the same offence and remain in custody.
The victim was walking through the park, off Eccles Old Road, with his dog when two hooded men armed with axes assaulted him at around 7.20pm.
Detectives are investigating claims the incident is linked to a dispute which has been simmering for several months between neighbours. Large parts of the park were cordoned off for several hours following the incident. Buile Hill is the largest park in the city and lies on the edge of Weaste and Seedley. Det Sgt Paul Davies, of GMP’s Salford borough, said: “We know this incident has caused a lot of concern to local people who have heard the news, however, I would like to say that we believe this to be a targeted attack, with no further threat to any other members of the public. “There are numerous lines of enquiries that we are currently following up, but every piece of information we receive helps us build a better picture about exactly what happened and who may be responsible. “With that in mind, I would like to appeal to anyone who has any information at all to please come forward. “This was a totally unprovoked and brutal attack on a man as he walked his dog through a popular park and we believe there could have been a number of witnesses who may have seen something.” Anybody with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 2043 of July 12 - or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Det Sgt Paul Davies