Manhunt as two stabbed

From the archive, first published Tuesday 12th Feb 2008.

A manhunt was under way today after two men were stabbed outside a Bradford restaurant.

One of the victims, who was covered in blood, is understood to have staggered into Spicey Cottage in High Street, Wibsey, to get help.

The wounded men were taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary where police said they were in a stable condition last night. The scene of the attack was cordoned off yesterday as a detailed forensic examination was carried out.

Councillor Ralph Berry (Lab, Wibsey) said it was the latest in a series of violent incidents in the area and he called for closed circuit television cameras to be installed.

He said: "It's shocking, absolutely shocking. We have had a shooting, a stabbing and a number of muggings here and there's a strong case to cover the whole of the High Street with CCTV cameras. This is an area where we have a lot of pubs, late-night takeaways, and people living here. We need to ask for serious consideration to be given for two cameras on high masts.

"In most other towns where you have that density of busy pub trade you have them."

Coun Berry said more police had already been drafted in to try to prevent trouble in the area.

"The local policing team has doubled in the last six months and they are working hard with all the agencies on the ground," he said.

"It's a decent place to live in but we need to get a grip on this culture of knife-carrying.

"We need to gather all the facts about what has happened and see what lessons we can learn - it's very bad for everyone."

Coun Berry's concerns were supported by traders in High Street.

A woman who works at a florists but did not want to be named, said: "It's getting really rough round here. There has been two muggings recently, everybody's talking about it.

"People are saying someone was fighting with another lad and his friend came out of the Windmill pub to help but someone got stabbed."

Charlotte Fry, who works behind the bar at the Windmill, which is next door to Spicey Corner, said: "I think the police need to start doing more because it is just getting worse and worse round here.

Sean Mosley was at work behind the bar at The White Swan at the time of the stabbing which occurred at about midnight on Sunday.

He said: "The last customers were leaving when we saw the police had cordoned off the road outside.

"My mum called the manager at Spicey Corner to see if they were okay and she said two people had been stabbed - one in the head.

"One of the men ran into the restaurant to ask for help and there was blood all over the place."

Police said the knifeman was a white man, about 5ft 7ins, of a skinny build with blond curly hair and stubble. He was wearing a red jumper.

Anyone with any information about the attack should contact Detective Sergeant Simon Pridgeon of Bradford South CID on 0845 6060606.