Multiple city centre streets were sealed off following the attack
Police at the scene on Whitechapel in Liverpool city centre this evening
A 17-year-old boy was taken to hospital after being slashed by a gang in Liverpool city centre. Merseyside Police have cordoned off several streets in the city centre this evening (Monday, December 30) following a serious attack.
Officers were called to the scene at around 6.40pm following a report a 17-year-old boy had been attacked by a number of males. It’s believed the incident occurred on Williamson Street and the victim then walked to Whitechapel.
Emergency services attended and the victim was taken to hospital for treatment of multiple slash wounds. He is in a stable condition in hospital, police said.
A cordon was put in place on Whitechapel outside the Metquarter this eveing, with Tesco Express and the Everyman Cinema also within the cordon. The entrance to the Cavern Quarter on Stanley Street was also sealed off, along with a section of Button Street, Williamson Street and Leigh Street.
The cordons have since been reduced in size but a cordon remains in place on Whitechapel while officers carry out the initial stages of an investigation, including CCTV and witness enquiries.
A police cordon remains in place in the city centre this evening
A police helicopter has been seen circling over the city centre this evening. Chief Inspector Andy Hughes said: “We are in the very early stages of this investigation and officers remain at the scene to establish the circumstances of what happened.
“This was a serious assault which could easily have led to even more serious consequences for the victim, who is thankfully recovering in hospital. We are determined to find those responsible and we will always take positive action whenever we receive information on the possession and use of knives and other weapons in the communities of Merseyside.“If you were in the area of Whitechapel earlier this evening and saw or captured anything, please let us know. The smallest detail could prove vital. Knife crime has no place on the streets of Merseyside and we will continue to do everything in our powers to combat it, bring offenders to justice and remove weapons from our streets, so please come forward and tell us what you know.”If you have any information about this incident, you can call 101 or DM @MerPolCC, quoting log number 776 of 30th December. You can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.