A schoolboy was stabbed in the face in the second knife attack in St Helens in less than four weeks.
Police were called to Westfield Street in St Helens at around 7.45pm on Sunday April 2 following reports that a 15-year-old had been "stabbed in the head", leaving him with serious facial injuries. A 16-year-old boy has since been arrested on suspicion of section 18 wounding, and remains in custody.
People in the town centre have described a chaotic scene with police scrambling to Westfield Street, on an otherwise quiet Sunday evening.
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A member of staff at a pub close to the location of the stabbing told the ECHO: "I was in work and just heard all the sirens and saw police flying down past the pub. It's the second time someone has been stabbed in the past few weeks, it's terrible. It's happening too often around here."
Just under a month ago on March 3, on the adjoining street to Sunday's stabbing- Ormskirk Street, a 20-year-old man was rushed to hospital after being stabbed. Two 19-year-olds were arrested following the incident.
Some feel the sight of a police cordon is becoming all too familiar in the town centre. As a member of staff in a shop close to Sunday's stabbing explained.
They said: "The town is becoming unrecognisable recently, it seems like every week there is something else, and it's just getting too much. I have lived here all of my life and it has never been this bad."
Last night at the scene one bar worker said they saw a boy running away "with blood on his head."
Merseyside Police's Force Incident Manager told the ECHO at the time of the incident that the victim was not assisting police with their enquiries.
Detective inspector Barbara Hebden said: "This was a nasty attack which left a teenage boy with a serious facial injury. We simply won’t stand by and allow people to carry knives and threaten the safety of themselves and others in our community.
"Although we have made an arrest, our enquiries are ongoing and we are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward. If you were in the Water Street area yesterday evening and saw anything or anyone suspicious then please come forward.
"Similarly if you were driving in the area and have dashcam footage then please review it and let us know if you see anything. All information you provide will be acted upon to remove dangerous weapons and those who use them from our streets.
"Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook with reference 23000279676. You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or their online form at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously."
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