A Suffolk community has been left outraged, shocked and dismayed after an 18-year-old was stabbed in Newmarket.
Mayor Andy Drummond has described the incident, which took place last night, as “awful” while his fellow ward councillor Robert Nobbs said it was a “terrible shock”.
They reassured residents not to be worried about the incident and that it was very rare that a stabbing took place in the town.
The pair said they were just moments away from the attack as they were holding a council meeting at the nearby Memorial Hall at the time.
Police were called at around 10.25pm to reports that a 18-year-old had been stabbed in Church Lane, near to Turner Hall.
The victim suffered a serious injury to his abdomen and was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, for treatment, where he remains.
A police spokesman said the man’s injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
The spokesman added: “Police are in the early stages of their investigation, however, enquiries carried out so far suggest this may have been a targeted attack.”
They added that police were keen to speak to two women who may have witnessed the stabbing.
Mr Drummond, who represents the St Mary’s Ward of the town where the attack took place, said: “I am very sorry to hear some-thing like this has happened and it’s pretty awful. We had a council meeting so we were all in the vicinity. Since the police moved into the town’s fire station we have had more visibility and a presence in the town and we now have a PCSO which has helped to provide a deterrent.
“Last year we had some stabbings on the other side of the town near the rail station but this kind of incident is rare.”
His fellow ward councillor Mr Nobbs added: “It’s a terrible shock to hear about this I just hope the victim is okay and that they catch the people who did this ... it’s more than worrying.
“You often hear of stabbings in London and it’s unusual for this to happen in Newmarket and we do not want to see much of it again.
“Church Lane is somewhere I often use and is a well used area of the town.”
Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
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