Two people hospitalised and eight arrested after multiple machete attacks in Darwen

Men wielding machetes were reportedly involved in an altercation in Lisbon Drive at around 2.20am.

A 27-year-old woman was found with a "foot injury" inside a property when officers arrived at the scene. She was taken to hospital for treatment.

Only a few minutes later, police were told a vehicle had been damaged in Duckworth Street - approximately five minutes away from Lisbon Drive by car.

At around 2.45am officers were made aware of an injured man who needed assistance in Sandon Street.

The 20-year-old man had suffered stab wounds to the leg, abdomen, shoulder and head. He was taken to hospital but his injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Seven men and one woman were arrested at the scene.

The incidents, which police believe are linked, are being treated as targeted attacks and there is not believed to be a wider threat to the public.

DCI Derry Crorken of Lancashire Police said: “These are serious offences and two people were badly injured. We know people in the area will have heard these incidents and we would urge anyone who has any information to come forward to assist us with our investigation."

A 20-year-old man, of no fixed address, was arrested on suspicion of wounding and taken to hospital to be treated for stab wounds.

A 21-year-old man from Darwen and a 50-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman from Wigan were arrested on suspicion of wounding and affray.

Two men, aged 20 and 23, from London were arrested on suspicion of affray.

A 19-year-old man from Reading and a 29-year-old man from Darwen were also arrested on suspicion of affray.

Officers are in the early stages of their enquiries and are keen to trace any witnesses to any of the incidents.

If you have any information that may help police with their enquiries, call 101 quoting incident reference number 0081 of March 11.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

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