A teenage boy cried out that he'd been stabbed and knocked on doors trying to get help following a 'vicious' street attack in Trafford which left him seriously injured eyewitnesses have said.
The 15-year-old was knifed on Darnley Street in Old Trafford in the early hours of this morning following a reported robbery.
He suffered 'serious injuries' and was rushed to hospital where police said he is now in a stable condition. One man has been arrested in connection with the incident but detectives insist their investigation is ongoing and extended stop and search powers have been introduced in the area in response.
READ MORE: Boy, 15, stabbed in Greater Manchester's third knife attack in six days
The horrific incident is said to have unfolded at Darnley Street's junction with Norton Street at around 3am.
Those living nearby have described hearing 'shouting' before one eyewitness saw the victim lying on stricken on the floor, and a suspected culprit jumping into a car which drove away immediately afterwards.
The boy is then said to have got to his feet with residents hearing the 'shaking' of gates and banging of doors. Blood spots were visible on one resident's doorstep.
A woman who lives close to the scene, but who did not want to be named, told the Manchester Evening News : "I saw the car and a guy running towards the car. The boy was lying on the ground and the car drove away.
"I was upstairs in my bedroom, so I shouted out to him and asked if he was okay. He said he had been stabbed so I called an ambulance. He walked over to my house and I did what I could for him whilst the paramedics arrived.
"It wasn't nice. It was very, very upsetting seeing him that distressed. I am just glad it wasn't more serious."
The incident is the second serious stabbing incident in the area in just over a year after 16-year-old Rhamero West was fatally knifed on nearby Norton Street on September 9, 2021.
A woman who lives in a house facing the area of pavement that was cordoned off immediately afterward the incident on Sunday said: "I heard a commotion sometime around 3am. It was quite scary as a 16-year-old was stabbed on Norton Street last year. I heard a lot of arguing, then they just stopped, and a heard a car driving past.
"Then the victim started saying 'help me I have been stabbed.' I heard the gate shaking and what sounded like banging. I'm thinking he must have been banging on our door, and the evidence is there as there was blood on our step. We didn't want to open the door as we were too scared. It was quite traumatic to be honest.
"The neighbour opposite, she came out and helped him. It's not something you expect, especially in an area like Old Trafford. This used to be a safe area but we definitely don't feel safe anymore."
Another woman who was in the property said: "I heard shouting, it was really loud so they must have been right outside. I heard one of the men shout 'let's go.' It was just silent after that."
A man who lives at the house returned from holiday early on Sunday morning and said: "I asked police what had happened they just said there had been a situation and they couldn't say anything.
"But as there was blood on the doorstep they needed to preserve the evidence so we had to come in through our back door. We are really shocked."
A man whose property also faces the crime scene said: "My missus shouted out to me that she could hear noises outside. By the time I went to the front of the house and looked out the police were already here. There were two cars parked outside and a woman who lives opposite was assisting them.
"At that point, I just went back inside. I had no idea what happened, I only found out earlier. I'm shocked, but not surprised. Especially given what happened last year. If it is a robbery it just shows you have to be so careful nowadays, it could have been anyone. It's really quite concerning."
Another local said: "It was about 10am when I saw the police tape. There were two police cars and two officers guarding it. A detective was taking pictures of the scene. It's not nice at all what's happened. And it is worrying, you just don't know anymore.
"We have youngsters here with us who are in their teens and if they don't come home at the time you agree you get really worried."
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said this afternoon an investigation to establish the full circumstances was ongoing but said: "It is believed three males were in a black vehicle at the time and following swift actions from officers and sighting the vehicle, a 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in custody for questioning regarding this incident after being detained in nearby Chorlton."
The force are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them as soon as possible. In response to the incident and "recent knife crime-related incidents during the week" for a period of 12 hours from this evening (Sunday, November 27) until 4am on Monday morning, the force have introduced Section 60 powers in an area of Trafford (see map further up this article).
The temporary powers give officers the power to stop and search anyone. The force say they have also increased patrols in the area to reassure locals.
Detective Sergeant John Seaton from Trafford CID, said; “This is a vicious attack on a young man in the early hours of this morning and following extensive work in a short time period we are now in a position to appeal to the public to ask if they saw anything suspicious around the Old Trafford area at the time of the incident, or indeed if they saw what happened.
“We are exploring all lines of enquiry and have already made an arrest in connection with this incident. We have increased our patrols in the area to offer visible reassurance and also encourage anyone to speak to our officers in person as they are there to help you if you have any concerns.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 7863 quoting incident number 470 of 27/11/22. Alternatively, details can be passed by calling 101 on via the LiveChat function on the GMP website. Or information can be passed anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Sign up to our Trafford newsletter to get the latest updates to your inbox
Read more of today's headlines here
READ NEXT:
- ' Dad, 38, found dead in village street 'covered in substance' had been shot and attacked with acid
- We had 15 minutes to decide whether to buy our £180,000 house - couples were queuing out the door'
- Grieving mum, 36, and four kids facing homelessness before Christmas after partner's sudden death
- The festive Lake District town with a unique Christmas market two hours from Greater Manchester
- "We are on the f****** pitch": The day that shamed a disgruntled mob of Manchester United fans - and landed 40 people in court
