A masked gang stabbed a man and 15-year-old boy and attacked another teenager 'with a baseball bat' in a shocking night of violence in Stockport. The group - made up of around 10 to 15 men - first launched an attack on a 22-year-old man leaving the Woodley Arms pub on Hyde Road at around 11pm last night (Friday).
Police said after a 'verbal altercation', they assaulted him. He was left with an injury to his thigh, which police believe was a knife wound. Just 20 minutes later, the gang then set upon two teenage boys who had been at a house party on Pine Street.
One of the victims, a 15-year-old, was left with a leg injury, suspected to be a stab wound. A 16-year-old boy was hit around the head with an unknown object, which officers believe was possibly a baseball bat.
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Both incidents happened in Woodley and involved a gang of males wearing balaclavas and dark clothes. They fled from the scene of both attacks - some on foot and others on bikes. Police said no suspects have been identified yet.
They are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. Stop and search powers have been stepped up in the suburb and will remain in place overnight. These allow officers to stop anyone to check for weapons.
Superintendent Mark Kenny said: "The assaults last night were very serious and could have resulted in even more serious consequences and identifying those responsible is a priority for Greater Manchester Police. Thankfully, none of them suffered serious injuries but as we all know, knife crime can have devastating consequences and I would urge anyone within the community who has information regarding the offences last night, or suspects someone is carrying a weapon or is involved in criminal behaviour, to report it.
"An investigation is on-going and we're following up a number of lines of enquiry whilst additional officers patrol the area in support of the increased stop and search powers and to offer some reassure to those nearby. Knife crime and serious violence is one of GMP’s priorities and we will continue to work with our partner agencies on a daily basis to keep communities in Stockport safe.
"I would also like to directly appeal to those carrying weapons to surrender them in our Forever Amnesty bins which are located at 12 police stations across Greater Manchester. There will be no questions asked and it could potentially save lives.
"Anyone with information about either of last night’s incidents is asked to report it online at www.gmp.police.uk. Alternatively, call 0161 856 9790 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting incident reference number 132 11/06/22."
