Street slashing prompts police hunt

A 15-year-old was slashed on a Liverpool street and sought help in a local restaurant as police investigate the attack.

Street slashing in city centre prompts police hunt

Police were called to Duke Street near Colquitt Street in Liverpool city centre at about 4:20 pm on Wednesday after reports a boy had been attacked with a bladed weapon. The teenager, about 15 years old, was taken to hospital with a minor head laceration and is in a stable condition. The suspect is described as around 17 or 18 and fled the scene on an electric pedal bike. A cordon was set on Colquitt Street and a section of Duke Street outside the Indian Tiffin Room restaurant. A blood trail and a bike were visible at the cordon. Staff at the restaurant described the moment the victim ran inside seeking napkins, and ambulance crews were called by passers-by.

Officers remained at the scene as inquiries began. Chief Inspector Phil Thompson urged witnesses to come forward and stressed that blade attacks are reckless and will not be tolerated in Merseyside. He noted there were likely many people nearby and announced increased patrols in the area to reassure residents and visitors.

The incident shows how daylight violence can disrupt ordinary city life and test the balance between public safety and everyday business. A quick response by emergency services helped the boy, but the longer effect is a sense of vulnerability in a busy city centre. The police emphasis on witness accounts and visible patrols signals a standard approach to knife crime, while public trust will depend on clear, timely information and steady policing, not sensationalism.

This event also raises questions about youth violence, weapon control, and how communities talk about risk. Education for families and practical steps at schools and in neighborhoods may be part of a longer-term answer, alongside targeted policing. The real test is whether the public feels protected without feeling policed, and whether local businesses can operate with confidence after incidents like this.

Highlights

City life relies on steady policing and community trust.