A man in his 30s is in a stable condition in hospital after being stabbed in the back during a dispute at a property in Toxteth. Merseyside Police officers were called to Boswell Street shortly after 7pm on Sunday following a report of a dispute between a group of men.
Three men, aged 38, 57 and 20, all from Liverpool, were arrested at the house on suspicion of section 18 wounding with intent. A 42-year-old was later arrested on suspicion of section 18 with intent at the cordon on Boswell Street.
Scene on Boswell Street
A police cordon remained in place on Monday morning, with officers focused on one house in the street. An officer was stationed outside the property and the door was left open. An overturned wheelie bin was visible outside, with rubbish spilled over the pavement.
Residents described hearing screaming at around the time of the incident. One woman told the ECHO: "If the police are still here, that’s not good. I have a bad feeling about this."
Residents' concerns
A man described recent tension in the area, saying: "Over the last few weeks, I have heard shouting around here but I don’t know what they were saying. There’s been tension in the air. Kids riding around with hoods on in the summer. There’s been fireworks going off over the past couple of months, at around 12.30am. It’s loud."
He added: "My dog hates them. Fireworks seem to emanate from that end (where the cordon is) but people are scared to say something. I thought about it but I don’t know what could happen. It’s always that end of the street - this end is fine. As I say, there is something in the air."
Several residents said they saw forensic teams on the street on Sunday night. One mother said: "I came back home last night, saw all the police and started panicking, thinking something had happened at our house. I heard it was a stabbing. Some people said it could have been a robbery, but when forensics were here I knew it was something more serious. This street is normally quiet - it's normally Lodge Lane and other streets where it's a bit mad."
Police appeal
Detective Inspector Lee Egerton said: "Although our officers made four swift arrests last night after the incident we are still in the early stages of an investigation to find out exactly what happened at the address in Toxteth and a cordon remains in place in the area."
He added: "Knives have no place in our communities and in this case a man has suffered a serious injury. These incidents have the potential to cause disruption and harm on our streets, and we understand that there is work to be done, both in understanding the root causes of knife crime, and educating residents on the risks people take in carrying weapons."
Detective Inspector Egerton urged anyone with information or doorbell footage to contact police, or to report knife crime anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. A spokesperson added that anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police's social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' with crime reference 26000691476, or report via the police website or by calling 101. In an emergency, always call 999.
