Police seek witnesses to town stabbings
THREE teenage boys have been released on bail over a brutal stabbing which saw two men needing treatment in hospital.
Police confirmed that a second victim was identified in a shocking incident in Southport town centre in the early hours of Monday morning.
Emergency services were called to Scarisbrick Avenue, near the Chop House rock bar, when a fight broke out at 1.40am.
It was initially stated that one person, a man in his 20s, had been taken to hospital but the Visiter can reveal that a second man was also admitted with a stab wound.
The first reported victim has been released, while the second man, also in his 20s, remains in hospital in a stable condition.
Three teenagers, aged 14 and 15, were detained by door staff and arrested on suspicion of Section 18 Assault. A third boy, aged 16, was found on Promenade soon after and arrested on suspicion of the same offence.
All three have conditionally bailed.
An investigation involving CCTV, forensic and witness enquiries has been launched and detectives are continuing to ask anyone who witnessed the attack or who has any information to come forward.
Detective Inspector Paul Gillies said: “If you were in Southport town centre in the early hours of [Monday] and saw anything or anyone suspicious then let us know. Information could be vital to our investigation.
“Our message is clear to those who choose to carry knives: it is just not worth the risk. We work tirelessly as a Force to tackle knife crime and if you carry a knife it is only a matter of time before you end up hurt or arrested.
“We will continue to work tirelessly with the public and our partners to prevent violence and remove the scourge of knife crime from our streets.
“If you have any information about this incident or knife crime in your community then please come forward, either directly or anonymously.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the force via @MerPolCC on Twitter or Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Facebook quoting reference 21000585937, or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 or using its online form.