Locals have spoken of their shock after a man was left fighting for his life following a suspected stabbing in Chorlton. The 48-year-old was attacked by two men at around 8pm last night (Sunday) in what is believed to have been a robbery, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.
The 48-year-old is in hospital with ‘serious life-threatening injuries’ the force said. The ‘altercation’ is said to have happened outside a bail hostel on Oswald Road with one of the suspects said to have fled the scene on an e-bike.
Emergency services flooded the area afterwards. A 46 year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and remains in custody for questioning.
A large cordon remained in place at the junction of Nicolas Road and Oswald Road for almost 20 hours afterwards. A blue police tent was erected in the centre of the cordon. And CSI officers in white forensic suits spent several hours on Monday afternoon combing the area for clues.
Officers could be seen going in and out of the bail hostel. At several points a large group of officers also carried out detailed searches, using long sticks to search the gardens of neighbouring properties as well as bushes and the pavement.
The police tent on Nicolas Road
(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
The cordon meant local GP surgery the Chorlton Family Practice had to remain closed to staff and patients for the day. Those living nearby told the Manchester Evening News had been left taken aback at what had happened.
A man who has lived on Nicolas Road for 30 years, who did not want to be named, said: “We’ve never had any trouble. There was one where there were armed police who came but that was it. And the response was nothing like this.
“So it has been a real shock seeing so many police and so close. It is a very quiet, residential area. So to have a cordon that big really is really unusual and obviously quite disturbing.”
“It’s really shocking” a neighbour said. “We first heard about it on Facebook. I looked out and there were blue lights everywhere and it was all taped off. It was a massive response so we knew it was something really serious. As someone who could well have been walking down there at that time, it’s quite scary really.”
CSI teams outside the bail hostel on Oswald Road
(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
Another man said: “It’s terrible. We don’t usually get any trouble around here. I’ve no idea where it has come from. My kids are adults now and they regularly walk down here, to the pub and what have you, so to know there’s things like this going on in the street is very worrying.”
A woman who lives near the bail hostel said there has never been ‘any bother’ in the area before. “The police were all focused on the scene around the corner initially but there was much more activity here this morning, with the forensics suited up” she said.
“I’ve got two little girls so it’s always concerning when something like this happens. And it’s difficult explaining it to them as well as it’s so visible.”
Another nearby resident said: “I saw all the blue lights last night, I thought they must be someone’s Christmas lights, but I looked out and saw all the police cars. I thought it must be a crash at first as it’s mad on here. It’s obviously a bit of a shock. Whoever he is, I just hope he is okay.”
Officers spent hours combing the area for clues
GMP say the incident is being treated as an ‘isolated incident, with no wider threat to the community.” Extra officers will be patrolling the area in the coming days, to’ provide reassurance for local residents’ they added.
They are asking anyone who witnessed the incident, or who lives nearby and has relevant dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage to come forward.
Detective Inspector Shauna Hayden, from GMP’s City of Manchester district, said: “Officers are on the scene fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“While our work so far has secured an arrest, we are now appealing for anyone with any relevant information to please come forward. If you saw anything or heard something from around the time of the incident, I would urge you to get in touch, as your assistance could be vital to getting the answers the victim in this attack deserves.”