Man held after five people attacked in Newton-Le-Willows hospital

Man held after five people attacked in Newton-Le-Willows hospital

A 20-year-old man has been taken into custody following an assault involving five victims at Newton Community Hospital in Newton-le-Willows, St Helens. The incident, which occurred shortly after midday GMT, involved the use of what is believed to be a crowbar. Thankfully, none of the injured individuals sustained life-threatening wounds and they received immediate medical attention from paramedics on the scene.

According to Merseyside Police, the suspect initially came to the hospital seeking an appointment. When staff declined his request and asked him to leave, his behavior escalated, becoming increasingly agitated. During the disturbance, he reportedly damaged a reception counter before assaulting several people inside the facility. Authorities have identified the man as originally from Afghanistan, and he is currently held on suspicion of five counts of Section 18 wounding, affray, and criminal damage.

Eyewitness accounts paint a vivid picture of the chaotic scene. Sugedaran Shanmugaraja, who works at a shop opposite the hospital, recounted how an injured woman with a bleeding head fled into his store seeking help. “I gave her my phone to call. I could see blood and she said somebody was attacking everybody,” he said. Shortly after, police vehicles arrived in large numbers, along with hospital staff who administered treatment to the wounded. Resident Hannah West, observing from her nearby home, described the distressing aftermath, noting how hospital workers and victims were evacuated while officers arrested a man at the scene.

Local council representative Seve Gomez-Aspron shared that his father, living close to the hospital, alerted him to the commotion involving attacks and damage inside the building. Upon arriving within minutes, Gomez-Aspron praised the swift and effective response from both the police and ambulance crews amidst uncertain and potentially dangerous circumstances. Superintendent Sarah Rotherham confirmed that officers responded promptly, locating and detaining the suspect quickly, while paramedics provided necessary care to those injured. Anyone who witnessed the events is encouraged to contact Merseyside Police or anonymously report information via Crimestoppers

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