A teenage boy has been questioned over a street slash attack.
A manhunt was launched last month after a 28-year-old man was slashed over the back after being asked to buy alcohol by a group of young strangers in the street.
And now the Chronicle can reveal that detectives probing the early morning attack have arrested a 17-year-old lad.
The youth was questioned on suspicion of unlawful wounding before being released under investigation.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "We have arrested a 17-year-old lad for unlawful wounding. He was released under investigation."
The victim was attacked at around 1.45am on Saturday September 14 after being approached on Flexbury Gardens in the Harlow Green area of Gateshead .
The Chronicle revealed last month how the man had been approached by a group of young strangers who asked him to buy them some alcohol before he was slashed across the back, with an unknown weapon.
He was taken to hospital but later discharged.
A police cordon was put in place in three locations after the incident – Waverley Road, Flexbury Gardens and Harlow Green Bank.
While forensic officers carried out investigations and dusted for fingerprints in the area.
Police also carried out door-to-door enquiries.
One resident said: “I woke up and police had cordoned off my husband’s van he uses for work and his dad’s car.
“There was blood on the back of the van and more on the front of the car.”
Det Insp Steve Byrne, of Northumbria Police's Central CID Team, said last month: "This was a serious assault that left the victim with significant injuries.
"There is no place for this type of violence on our streets and we will deal with incidents of this nature in a swift and robust manner."
Anyone with any information should call Northumbria Police on 101 quoting log 82 140919.
