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National

NT Police say man is in serious but stable condition after Darwin CBD stabbing

The crime scene where police say a man was stabbed this morning. (ABC News: Michael Donnelly )

A man has been stabbed in Darwin's CBD this morning, police say.

NT Police said it responded to a stabbing on Smith Street after being alerted to the incident at about 4.50am.

"Police and St John Ambulance arrived on scene confirming the man had suffered a puncture wound to the abdomen," NT Police said.

The man was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital and is in a serious but stable condition, police said.

Police said investigations were ongoing.

The incident follows two fatal stabbings in Darwin since March and comes against a backdrop of what police say is a growing number of knife-related incidents in the Top End.

Darwin is experiencing an uptick in knife-related violence. (Supplied: Adobe Stock)

In response, the NT government has toughened bail laws for people charged with weapons offences.

The government also announced a review of police powers, and increased police patrols at areas known for crime and antisocial behaviour.

The death of 19-year-old Declan Laverty, who died after being stabbed at a bottle shop where he was working, triggered the reviews into bail laws and police powers.

It also precipitated an outpouring of anxiety, grief and anger across Greater Darwin. Marchers have turned out in the city to protest rising crime rates, the NT opposition has renewed and intensified calls for a tough-on-crime approach from the government, and residents, anecdotally, have began reporting increased concern about violence in the community.

Weeks after Mr Laverty's death, a 51-year-old woman died after being stabbed in the Darwin CBD. Police described the death as "domestic-related".

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