The 16-year-old was also slashed in the head, back and buttocks during the brutal assault
Police on Harrow Road in Anfield(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
Neighbours described their fear for children as a teenager fights for life after being sprayed with an “unknown substance”. Emergency services were called to Harrow Road in Anfield at around 7.30pm on Saturday, December 28.
It followed a report three males entered a home on the street and sprayed an unknown substance at the 16-year-old boy. The victim also suffered slash wounds to his head, back and buttocks during the assault, police said.
The teenager was taken to hospital and as of Monday, December 30, he remained in a critical condition. Neighbours said they were now fearful of letting their own children play outside.
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Other people who live in the area told the ECHO they received a letter through the door from police on Monday, December 30, following the incident. The letter appealed for anyone with information or CCTV footage to contact police.
One woman told the ECHO she saw a Christmas tree had been taken down after police were called to the house where the attack took place on Saturday. She said: “They took the Christmas tree down and put it back up, that’s all we know.
“We didn’t hear any commotion or anything like that, just saw the police car outside. It’s just shocking really.” Speaking to the ECHO, another man said: “I know the guy, he’s my mate. I couldn’t believe what happened.
“We didn’t know because we were all inside. It’s hard, he’s just a kid and he’s critical. We used to play outside with him, playing football and that. He’s a nice person. I’ve got my young nephews. How can I let them go outside by themselves? We close our doors and keep them safe, you never know.”
Police on Harrow Road in Anfield(Image: Liverpool ECHO)
In its most recent update, Merseyside Police said enquiries are ongoing into the incident and tests are being carried out to establish what the substance is. Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident, which includes house-to-house and CCTV enquiries.
Detective Inspector Michael Fletcher said: “An investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances of this incident, but at this early stage we believe it to be a targeted attack. The incident has left a 16-year-old boy in hospital in a critical condition and officers are supporting his family at this time.
“We understand that the community will be rightly concerned by this incident, but please be assured that we are determined to find the three males involved in this incident. We believe that the suspects were wearing tracksuits, had face coverings and spoke with Liverpool accents.
“If you have any information about this incident, please come forward as a matter of urgency. If you live in the area or were driving through at the time of the incident, please review your CCTV or dashcam footage to see if you captured anything that could help our enquiries.
”If you have CCTV,doorbell or dashcam footage which may help with the investigation then please upload it here. If you have any information, you can call 101 or DM @MerPolCC on social media, quoting reference number 24001086343. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”