Two men have been taken to hospital after they were found with stab wounds close to South Shields town centre.
Police were called to Ocean Road at around 12.40am today (March 20) following reports of a "disturbance" where they found two men had suffered injuries that appeared to have been caused by a "bladed article".
They were treated at the scene by the emergency services before being taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle with in a "non-life threatening" condition. Northumbria Police have today launched an investigation to establish the circumstances.
READ MORE: South Shields 'stabbings' LIVE: Updates as forensics descend on taped off area near homes
Police confirmed at around 3pm on Monday that one of injured men, aged 20, has now been discharged from hospital and has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.
A huge police cordon has been in place behind Ocean Road since the early hours of this morning sealing off Anderson Street. A police forensic team attended the scene at around 11am where they were seen taking photographs of a blood-splattered pavement and marking up the evidence with numbered cones.
A car could be seen inside the police cordon with its windows put through.
A number of officers remain at the scene while police carry out enquiries. In a statement, the force has urged anyone with information to come forward.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “At 12.40am today (Monday), we received a report of a disturbance in Ocean Road, South Shields. Officers attended the scene and found two males who had suffered injuries consistent with being caused by a bladed article.
“Both males were treated at the scene before being taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. A cordon remains in place to allow officers to carry out a full investigation into what exactly took place.
"One of the males injured, aged 20, has been discharged from hospital and subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.
“Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information should contact police either using the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101 and quoting NP-20230320-0030.”
Meanwhile, residents in their area have spoken of their shock to find a heavy police presence on their doorstep.
One woman who did not want to be named, said: "I have lived here for 32 years and the area has got worse in that time. People try to keep themselves to themselves.
"My nephew came home from a night out at 2am, and the police cordon was there. I was so pleased he got home safe.
"I had to take a relative to the hospital for an appointment this morning, but they had to cancel it because I couldn't get my car out past the cordon. My mam lives over the road, and the police have already called her asking to see her CCTV."
Meanwhile, a passerby told Chronicle Live: "I've just been to pick up my car as I had left it here while I had a few drinks last night and found that it's in the middle of the police cordon so I can't move it."
Another woman who also wanted to remain anonymous, said: "Police have been here since before 9am this morning. It's a huge cordon. No one really seems to know what has happened.
"It's a rough area but you certainly don't expect to see this on a Monday morning."
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