An eyewitness has told of the terrifying moment he saw a woman surrounded by a pool of blood after a vicious machete attack.
Multiple streets in Anfield were sealed off tonight (August 11) after Merseyside Police received reports of a man shouting at people and carrying a machete. Officers were first called to Arkles Lane just after 5.30pm.
The man, who is believed to have mental health issues, had slashed several victims on Utting Avenue and Ince Avenue. The machete was then dumped in Anfield Cemetery before he was detained by Merseyside police in Stanley Park.
UPDATE: Everything we know about machete rampage in Anfield
Several people were rushed to hospital, where they’re being treated for their injuries. While police were unable to confirm how many people were injured, they did say none of the victims are believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries. Merseyside police also confirmed the incident is not terror related.
One man, who asked not to be named, told the ECHO he first saw the man swinging a machete on Utting Avenue.
He said: “He was walking down the road with a massive knife and got into some sort of altercation with someone. He hit him in the back with the wrong end of the knife and walked down the road (Utting Avenue).
“Two guys tried to to tackle him but he had a knife, it was tough. He went into this house about 30 seconds later a woman walked out, there was blood everywhere and she was crying. He then booted her out the house so me and two other lads grabbed her and pulled her across the road.”
The man said he ran to a nearby car and asked for a first-aid kit, before bandaging a wound to the woman’s arm.
The man said: “There was a massive pool of blood outside the house and she had injuries to her head and a bad laceration to her arm. The door of the house was open and we were worried he would come back. But I think he jumped the back garden wall into the cemetery.”
Another witness told the ECHO he had been walking along Priory Road when he came 'face-to-face' with the knifeman carrying a "massive machete." Ash, who did not want to give his second name said: "We crossed the road and he passed us. About 20 seconds later a younger guy ran towards us with stab wounds to the arm.
"We then saw him [the knifeman] walk down the street until he entered a house. I was shocked, you would never expect to come face-to-face with that."
A number of cordons have been established in the area, on Utting Avenue, Ince Avenue, Cherry Lane, Stanley Park, Anfield Cemetery and Priory Road. Crime Scene Investigators are carrying out forensic examinations, while officers make house-to-house enquiries and CCTV in the area is being examined.
Detective Chief Inspector Cath Cummings said: “This incident will have been frightening for those assaulted as well as those who witnessed it, and we will provide them with our full support.
“I understand that the circumstances will be frightening too for the wider community in Anfield. Thankfully, specialist officers attended swiftly, arrested a suspect and brought an end to the incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
“While we do not believe anyone else was responsible, extra officers will be deployed on high visibility patrols in the Anfield area in the coming days to reassure the community.”
Det Chief Insp Cummings added: “Incidents such as this illustrate all too clearly the dangers knives and bladed weapons can pose.
“That is why we carry out operations all year round to take them off our streets, with warrants, land searches and stop checks enabling us to seize such weapons and take them out of the hands of criminals.
“No-one should fall victim to knife crime, and we welcome any information from the public on where they are being stored and who is carrying them so that we can protect the communities of Merseyside.
“I would urge anyone thinking about carrying a knife to think again, and spare yourself and others the risk of serious injury, and save yourself time in police custody.”
“I would urge anyone who witnessed any part of this incident, or has camera phone, CCTV or dashcam footage, to contact police.”
If you can help, DM @MerPolCC, or message ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook quoting reference 777 of 11 August. Alternatively, call 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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