Neighbours in Bulwell have told of their shock after streets were cordoned off after a serious incident. Nottinghamshire Police confirmed detectives were called to reports of a stabbing in Keys Close, off Seller's Wood Drive and Belgrave Road, late on Wednesday evening (February 1).
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the emergency services on the street at around 12midnight, with officers first called out at 10.12pm. Police confirmed the 18-year-old man was stabbed, saying he remains in a critical but stable condition at the Queen’s Medical Centre. A woman in her 30s sustained minor injuries in the same incident.
Residents in Bulwell voiced their concerns after seeing the area cordoned off by police. Robert Barker, a cleaner who lives in Bulwell, added: “The area has a reputation for crime, drugs, violence - the whole shebang.
READ MORE: Man left in critical condition after Bulwell house attack stabbing
“I used to work in the retail park and used to hear police cars whizzing around. But I think we would need more police on foot. I think everywhere in Nottingham is bad, but this area is particularly dangerous. I just want to move out, far far away out of Nottingham.”
Emma Fletcher, who lives in Musters Walk, added: “I knew that something severe must have happened when I saw most of Keys Close cordoned off, all the way to Catherine Close.
“I have seen police scattered around. It looked like something severe happened. You see police in the area quite often. You sometimes see young people shouting, I guess you could describe it as violent sounds - but it is never violence.”
Ms Fletcher, who runs her business from home, added: “I have clients coming and I am not sure if that is going to put them off. It is scary. I have never seen such a big cordon in the area.”
Steve Paling, who also lives in the area, said he returned home the night before after the incident - with 'around four police' already at the scene. The 62-year-old retail worker added: "I came here and police were all over. I was dropped off at the back and had to use the front entrance because the back of my house was cordoned off.
"My wife had to sign out to go to work this morning. You hear about it in the news but you never see it so close to me. It is shocking.
"It feels difficult when it is just around the corner from where you live. It is scary."
Qazi Alvi, who works as a private taxi driver, 48, added: "We came back last night at around 10.30pm, and there were around four police cars and an ambulance. It is scary when you see so many officers where you live.
"I have never seen anything like it. Everything was in peace when we left the house, and then we came back and police were everywhere."
Detective Chief Inspector Ruby Burrow, of Nottinghamshire Police, urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward. She said: “Our investigation to establish the full circumstances of what happened remains in its early stages and we would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any dash-cam or mobile phone footage.
"We have a large team working to understand the circumstances surrounding this incident and I’d like to reassure people that we treat all reports of this nature with the utmost seriousness. We've increased reassurance patrols in the area and if anyone has any concerns we'd encourage them to speak to one of our officers.”
Anyone with any information is asked to call the police on 101, quoting incident 774 of 1 February 2023. Alternatively Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555111.
READ NEXT:
