A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two people were stabbed, including one at a hotel housing Afghan refugees, in Surrey.
One person is believed to have been attacked at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Long Ditton, while another man was attacked at a garage next door. The incident occurred at approximately 1.45pm on Sunday. Both victims were taken to hospital and the man was taken into police custody.
A large police cordon was set up on Portsmouth Road, blocking vehicles and pedestrians from accessing the garage or hotel, and forensic workers attended the scene.
People staying at the hotel were reportedly allowed back to their rooms on Sunday evening, but the area remained closed to the public.
A Surrey police spokesperson said: “While we appreciate that this may be extremely concerning, we would like to reassure you that we believe this was an isolated incident. An investigation is under way to establish the circumstances of the incident and remains ongoing.”
Detectives are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information to come forward.
Mark Knight, 41, who lives in Long Ditton, said he’d seen a lot of “drama” at the hotel around the time of the incident and that the road had been “jam-packed” with police vehicles. “I saw someone in handcuffs coming out,” he said.
“There was another guy that came out with a bandage around his head and his bicep. They put him in an ambulance.”
Fraser Howie, 36, who lives on Portsmouth Road, said he saw some of the aftermath of the incident from his upstairs window. “I only saw it after the police arrived,” he said. “[I saw] lots of police cars. There was one car sitting in the middle of the road, which was obviously where all the commotion was around.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We take the welfare and safety of those in our care incredibly seriously. We are aware of an incident in Surrey at a hotel housing Afghan refugees.
“We are working closely with Surrey police and partners on the ground to support the investigation and those affected by today’s events.”
Anyone who wishes to provide information to the police is being asked to quote reference PR/SYP-20230709-0431.
• The headline and text of this article was amended on 10 July 2023. The incident occurred in Long Ditton, Surrey; not neighbouring Surbiton, south-west London.
