Little Lever stabbing: man taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after fight on street in Bolton

A man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries following a fight in Bolton which is now being investigated by police.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called to reports of a disturbance in Little Lever on Sunday lunchtime, and witnesses described men with knives involved in an altercation with a second group.

A man in his 20s had been stabbed and had surgery on Sunday after being rushed to hospital by the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS).

Police have already made an arrest as the investigation gets under way but say they still want to speak to anyone who knows or saw what happened.

What happened in Little Lever and how have the police responded?

Police were called to Booth Street in Little Lever at around 1pm on Sunday (12 February) after receiving reports of a disturbance. Witnesses told officers that two men had knives - one of them a Rambo-style hunting blade - were fighting with a second group of men, though it was not clear exactly how many were involved.

Officers found a man in his 20s had been stabbed and suffered serious injuries to his torso and back. Ambulance crews took him to hospital, where he had surgery and his condition was described as life-threatening.

Police sealed off the car park of a nearby pub while a vehicle was analysed by forensic teams. Police also put a crime scene in place around a property on Kirkshall Gardens in Radcliffe where a man was detained. Police said they also want to look at a vehicle which was at the address.

The suspect was also taken to hospital but his injuries were not considered to be life-threatening or life-changing.

What have police said?

DCI Dean Purtill from GMP said: “This is still very much an ongoing investigation in its very early stages but we are confident that this is a targeted incident and the wider community are not at risk.

“However, we are going to be increasing patrols in the area over the next few days, who will be there to support the community as the investigation continues. We are also appealing for any witnesses to come forward.”

Anyone with information about this incident should contact Bolton CID on 0161 856 5757 or via the non-emergency police number 101, quoting log number 1497 of the date 12 February 2023. Alternatively, people can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.