MANHUNT: Police hunt for second man following brutal stabbing

Shortly after the victim was found unconscious in a pool of blood, police arrested an 18-year-old man wearing heavily blood-stained clothing in a nearby alleyway.

Police are now hunting a second man who was seen running away from the scene of the crime, on Regent Road.

The Gazette understands detectives are looking into the possibility it was a revenge attack, although the details remain unclear.

The 28-year-old victim was rushed to hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries after being found in the street at around 9pm on Sunday.

Police said two of the stab wounds were “relatively serious” but the man is now in a stable condition.

A knife, believed to be the one used in the attack, has been recovered by police.

Det Insp Gareth Willis, of Blackpool CID, said: “The victim was found with around five stab wounds to the chest.

“A male was arrested not long after that. He was found in the Hornby Road area, in the back alleyways, wearing heavily blood-stained clothing.”

He said it is thought the incident started inside a property on Regent Road, which was yesterday being guarded by police, before spilling out into the street.

It is not clear whether the victim was stabbed before or after he left the building.

He then made his way up towards the junction of Regent Road and Church Street, where he was found unconscious.

Police are now speaking to possible witnesses in a bid to discover exactly what happened. Det Insp Willis added: “We are currently carrying out house to house inquiries and looking at CCTV in the area to see if we can shed some light on what has gone on.

“The incident has obviously spilled out into the street but we don’t know exactly what’s happened on Regent Road that has led to him being in the street.

“We believe there are at least two men involved.

“One man has been arrested and we have made a direct appeal to trace a second man.”

Witnesses have told police they saw two men running away from the scene.

Det Insp Willis added: “We are still trying to trace a second man, thought to be white, who was seen running from the area where the victim was found.”

The victim was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where his condition was initially described as “critical” but police have since said he is “serious but stable”.

An 18-year-old man from Huddersfield was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent and was last night in police custody.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.