Children were hurried by their parents past a cordoned off street where a man was stabbed by a gang of thugs.
Merseyside Police cordoned off a residential street full of families after a man was stabbed a number of times in a vicious Halloween attack. Police were called to an alleyway off Espin Street, Walton, at around 11.10pm on Monday, October 31 after receiving reports of a serious assault.
Officers found the man in the alleyway before rushing him to hospital for treatment for "serious" injuries. Detectives confirmed the injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Today the street, just yards away from Goodison Park, remained cordoned off, while a secondary cordon was also in place in the alleyway where the attack happened.
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The ECHO understands police forensic teams worked during the night down the alleyway. Detectives began witness enquiries and could be seen knocking on doors on nearby Goodison Road.
Children bundled up in coats and rain jackets were hurried past the cordon by their parents on their way to school. Just hours before the vicious attack, that saw the victim stabbed in his legs and buttock, the same children would have been trick or treating around the street. Pieces of pumpkin and several forgotten sweets were seen on the floor on the surrounding streets.
One mum, who did not want to be named, told the ECHO this morning: "It's never nice to see police like this so close to your home. We see a bit of police when the match is on, but not really like this."
The mum, who lived two streets from the crime scene and was walking her two children to school, added: "Families live on these streets. We all speak with our neighbours. We were out last night with the children trick or treating."
People on neighbouring Goodison Road, whose houses back onto the alleyway, told the ECHO they heard police sirens shortly after 11pm. One woman said: “I heard the police sirens and saw the lights as I was going to bed. A few cars whizzed down and there was a van parked at the top of the street. They were knocking on doors and speaking with neighbours.”
An investigation into the stabbing is underway by Merseyside Police with detectives appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police told the ECHO : "We are appealing for information following a report of a serious assault in Walton last night, Monday 31st October. At around 11.10pm, we received a report that a man had been stabbed by a group of males in an alleyway off Espin Street.
"The victim sustained stab wounds to his legs and buttock. He was taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries, which are believed to be serious, but not life threatening. We are in the early stages of an investigation and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 22000801398."
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