Residents of a Darlington street have reacted with shock and sadness after a "targeted" stabbing which has left a man fighting for his life in hospital.
Two police cordons were erected in Louisa Street in Darlington following reports of a stabbing after 2pm today (Monday, July 29).
A Premier corner shop was cordoned off as well as a section of homes further up the road in the wake of the incident as multiple police vehicles parked up around it.
Police later confirmed that a man was stabbed in the back in what has been described as a "targeted" stabbing. One person has been arrested.
A Durham Police spokesperson said: "A man is in hospital with life-threatening injuries following a stabbing in Darlington.
"Shortly before 2.30pm today, officers were called to the Eastbourne Road area of the town following reports that a man had been stabbed.
"Police, including armed officers, attended the scene and found the victim in Louisa Street. He was taken by ambulance to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough for treatment of a single stab wound to the back.
"A suspect has been arrested. It is believed that this was a targeted attack and there is no risk to the wider public.
"Two police cordons have been put in place in the area and it is expected there will be a large police presence for some time."
Those up and down the street who came out to see what was going on spoke of their sadness after the incident - as many agreed what had happened is typical in the area.
Two ladies on Louisa Street spoke to The Northern Echo but did not wish to be named. They said the whole incident is “awful”.
“What is happening in this world?”, they said.
They then spoke of how nice the area was in times gone by. They say it used to be a “lovely” place to live but now it’s going downhill.
A passer-by then added: “I don’t know what is happening to this town.”
Srikanth Pittala, 29, has only lived in Darlington for a matter of weeks.
He said: “After a while, the police showed up and I saw them take someone into an ambulance.
“This is the first time I have ever seen something like this. I’ve only been here two months.”
Lisa Murray, 53, has been a resident in this area all her life. She says the area is usually okay and there’s not too much trouble.
She told the Echo: “Generally, it is okay. I have lived around here my whole life.
“I didn’t even hear what happened until the dog started barking.”
Friday, her son, added they heard a “shout” before coming down to see what had happened. They saw the air ambulance land on the adjacent field and captured footage of it descending.
Lisa Spencer, 46, lives in the area and is visiting family on the street. “First we knew there was a helicopter, we saw it coming across,” she said.
“There’s never a dull moment around here. There is always something going on. If the kids aren’t safe to go out anymore then who is?”
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed they took a patient to hospital.
They said: "We were called to reports of a man injured in Louisa Street, Darlington, at 2.25pm this afternoon (29 July).
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"We dispatched one ambulance crew and a clinical team leader and requested support from our air ambulance colleagues.
"One patient has been taken to hospital for further treatment."
Yorkshire Air Ambulance also confirmed they attended the scene.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident 209 of July 29th.
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