A man ran into the street shouting "please help me" after being slashed in the face by a masked intruder.
Police were called to a house on Fernhill Drive in Toxteth shortly before 2.10am today, December 7, to reports a man in his 30s had been attacked with a kitchen knife. The offender, who had his face covered, had entered the property through the front door before assaulting the victim, who neighbours say escaped through a bedroom window.
A woman, aged in her 60s, on nearby North Hill Street said she was woken up just after 2am to the sound of the man banging on her kitchen window, screaming for help.
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She said: "I'm the one who phoned the police. He was just banging on my window and my door, screaming for help. It was about 2.05pm. I don't know what's gone on. So I asked them to do a welfare check because I didn't know what to do – I wasn't opening the door at that hour of night.
"He was banging on my kitchen window, pressing the bell, and going next door and banging there as well. I looked out of the window and he was screaming 'please help me, please help me, please help me'."
Emergency services attended, with one Fernhill Drive resident reporting at least six police vehicles on the street at around 3am. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been discharged.
An investigation has been launched, with a forensics unit remaining at the scene this afternoon. Officers carried out house-to-house enquiries and are appealing for anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward.
Detective inspector Chris Carlin said: “Our enquiries into this incident are at an early stage, but we believe the victim was targeted and that he and the suspect are known to each other. Thankfully, the victim will make a full recovery from his injuries but anyone who uses a knife – whether on the street or in the home – risks causing both their victim and themselves very serious harm.
“Reducing knife crime in Merseyside is a priority for the force all year round. We understand the devastating impact it can have on individuals, families, and wider communities and our work to educate people of all ages of the dangers they pose continues. Both serious violence and knife crime are falling in Merseyside, but we know there is still work to do to tackle knife crime and make communities safer.”
If you have information about this incident, DM our social media desk Twitter @MerPolCC quoting reference 23001237310. You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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