Six teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 13-year-old girl was stabbed in the neck.
The two girls and four boys are in police custody after the attack in the town of Hessle, near Hull, which left the victim with life-threatening injuries.
Humberside police said members of the public came to help the girl when she was seen injured at the side of the A63 dual carriageway shortly before 7am on Friday.
She had multiple “lacerations” to her neck, abdomen, chest and back, the force said. Officers searched a wooded area nearby and arrested two girls aged 14 and 15 and four boys, aged 14, 15, 16 and 17, on suspicion of attempted murder.
The victim remained in a critical condition in hospital on Friday night.
Det Supt Simon Vickers said it was believed the attackers knew the victim. He said: “I understand this incident will rightly cause concerns amongst the community and I would like to offer my assurances that as a part of our initial investigation we have six individuals in custody who are all being questioned by detectives.”
Vickers said there would be an increased police presence in the area over the weekend and urged members of the public to report any concerns. He added: “There are currently cordons in place surrounding the wooded area off Ferriby High Road to allow emergency services to work safely and follow multiple lines of enquiry.
“I would also like to thank the members of the public who came to the aid of the girl and assisted her at the roadside before emergency services arrived.
“If you have any information that may assist officers, or if you have dashcam or CCTV footage from around the time of the incident, please contact us on our non-emergency number 101, quoting log 82 of 1 November.”
