A councillor has appealed for Salfordians to help identify an attacker who stabbed a man possibly "for his shopping" in a supermarket car park. The 62-year-old victim who suffered serious injuries after being knifed four times is a carer for his disabled dad.
The incident happened at about 4.30 pm yesterday as the victim left Aldi at Salford Precinct. It came just two weeks after 31-year-old Tyron Riley was stabbed to death in nearby Clarendon Park.
As police step up a manhunt to find the culprit of yesterday's attack it is undertood his victim remains in hospital in intensive care. Police are checking CCTV in the area in the hope that it will have captured the attacker on film.
Witnesses have said it appeared the victim had been stabbed after an attempt to steal his shopping and that he was found slumped next to his car. But police have revealed none of the shopping had been taken. However the victim was "targeted" in that the attacker went directly towards him before launching a frenzied assault. No weapon has yet been recovered.
Local councillors are to hold a meeting with police due to concern about knife crime in the area. Councillor John Warmisham who represents the ward where yesterday's stabbing occured, said: "I am deeply saddened that something like this could happen. I hope the perpetrator is identified quickly and brought to justice. My sincere sympathies go out to the person who has been stabbed and I hope he makes a full recovery.
"I think people should see this though as a one-off. It is still safe to go shopping at the Precinct. Local councillors will be having a meeting with GMP to discuss knife crime in the area and security. Working with the police and charities we have already gone into schools across the city to get across the consequences of carrying a knife.
"The Broughton Trust has organised the staging of a hard-hitting play in schools to reinforce the message. Knife crime has become an epidemic nationally and we must do everything we can to stop it in Salford.
"I understand the man who was attacked on the car park outside Aldi is a carer for his father. It would appear he was was the victim of an attempted robbery for his bag of shopping. That is not a run-of-the-mill mugging. Someone must have been desperate to commit such a crime - and probably on drugs at the time.
"It would seem the victim, like any Salford bloke, has had a go back and started to fight when his bag of shopping is being stolen and the attacker has pulled a blade. I would urge anyone who knows who the culprit is to contact police. He is clearly dangerous."
On a Facebook page for the Pendlton and Charlestown ward one local posted: "This poor victim is my neighbour who looks after his disabled father. I really hope the police get the rotten and evil swine who perpetrated this wicked act."
One shop worker, who asked to remain anonymous, told the M.E.N: "We saw everyone running out of the precinct. I saw an old man at the side of his car. He had been stabbed.
"They tried to take his shopping off him as he made his way to his car. He was taken to the hospital. His car is still there outside the Aldi now. The whole area has been cordoned off. The shopping centre and everywhere else has had to close.
"Aldi has been completely blocked off. There are police cars at every entrance of the precinct and the car park. I saw the man slumped in his car."
Detective Sergeant Gareth Bannister of GMP’s Salford District said: "I would like to reassure the public first and foremost that this is an isolated incident, and our officers are leaving no stone unturned to locate the suspect in question.
"Our officers will remain in the local area to conduct further enquiries this evening and we have an increased number of patrolling officers across the centre of Salford to provide further reassurance to our community.
"If you were at Salford Precinct this afternoon, saw anything suspicious, saw the suspect in question or have any information no matter how small it may be, this could be a huge help in locating the suspect and achieving justice for the victim."
If you have any information regarding this incident, you can report it by calling 0161 856 5235 or 101 quoting log 2025 of 10/01/2023. You can also report information online via our reporting tool on our website: www.gmp.police.uk
For more of today's top stories click here.
READ NEXT:
Judge tells jurors in Benjamin Mendy trial he will accept majority verdicts
Paramedics go on second wave of strikes across Greater Manchester in row over pay - latest updates
"I have f****** told you": Businessman, 45, launched vile campaign against 14-year-old's mum
Women barged into ex-friend's home and battered her in 'wild' attack
Family's heartbreaking tribute to 'kind' little girl who died after collapsing at school
