Two suspects rode away on bikes after someone was stabbed in a church yard.
Merseyside Police rushed to a cemetery on School Lane in Formby at around 4.55pm on Tuesday, March 8, following reports of a stabbing.
Once at the scene officers found a ' male' had been stabbed, but a spokeswoman for the force did not confirm the victim's age. He was rushed to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.
READ MORE: Updates as 'serious' stabbing cordons off church yard
Several police vans and cars arrived at the scene along with a number of ambulances.
A spokeswoman for the force said: "It was reported that the two male suspects rode off on bikes after the incident."
Officers closed a section of School Lane surrounding the Our Lady's Church yard.
One man who lives close to School Lane said the first he knew about the incident was when the air ambulance started flying over the scene.
He said: “I was out the back and saw the helicopter above. My daughter came in and said they had blocked off the road.”
After hearing police had confirmed a person was stabbed, he added: “You always worry about things like this happening anyway, but I don’t think it’s too concerning as it’s very rare something like this will happen.”
The air ambulance did not land at the scene but was seen circling over Formby before heading back to Blackpool Airport.
A man who lives on School Lane and has lived in Formby for 35 years said he was bringing things in from his car when he came back outside and saw four police cars and an ambulance on the road.
He told The ECHO : “I assumed at first it was a road traffic accident. Now hearing what’s happened, it’s hard to put anything into words.
“Formby is seen as a pleasant, family-friendly town. You hear of stabbings in the city and it’s awful to hear they have reached us here.”
A woman who lives in Formby and was walking near the stabbing scene said: “I couldn’t believe what happened when my husband told me.
"Things like this are happening far too often in Merseyside. It seems like it’s just the normal to carry a knife and it is just so so wrong.”
Police have now launched a full investigation and are encouraging anybody with CCTV or dashcam footage to get in touch.
An investigation has commenced and officers will remain in the area to carry out forensic, CCTV, house-to-house and witness enquiries, and to speak to the local community.
Chief Inspector Simon Owen said: “Enquiries are in the very early stages to establish what has taken place. I would appeal to anyone who was vicinity of the cemetery on School Lane just before 5pm to please contact us.
“I want to also ask people who were in the area but may not have seen anything to please check your dashcam footage and any CCTV that could have they captured something which may be vital to the case.”
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 673 of March 8.
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