- Were you at Newton Community Hospital or know anything more? Email: patrick.harrington@dailymail.co.uk
A woman was seen running along the street covered in blood amid a crowbar rampage in a hospital waiting room that left five people were injured.
A 20-year-old Afghan man allegedly launched the attack after he was refused an appointment, and was arrested at the scene at Newton Community Hospital in Newton-Le-Willows, Merseyside.
The ‘shaking’ woman reportedly ran from the hospital into a local shop just after midday and begged staff to summon police.
Sugedaran Shanmugaraja, who was working at Best One, opposite the hospital, told the Liverpool Echo: ‘She had a lot of blood at the back of her head and on her shoulder. She was shaking and upset.’
He passed his mobile to the distressed woman so she could call the police, and moments later ‘ten or 15 police cars and an ambulance’ tore onto the scene, Mr Shanmugaraja said.
Merseyside Police confirmed they were scrambled to Newton Community Hospital just after midday on Tuesday.
The harrowing incident started when a man, who is originally from Afghanistan, arrived at the hospital to request an appointment.
When his demand was denied he became increasingly agitated and attacked several people with a weapon – believed to be a crowbar.
Paramedics tended to the victims whose injuries are reportedly not life-threatening.
The Afghan man has been arrested on suspicion of five counts of wounding with intent, affray and criminal damage.
He was taken to a local police station and remains in custody.
A large police presence remains at the scene and members of the public have been advised to avoid the area.
Hannah West, who lives across the road from the hospital, said she saw staff and wounded people being evacuated, as well as a man being arrested.
She told the BBC: ‘Hospital staff were being evacuated – they looked really stressed, but you could tell they were trying to help people.
‘One woman was wrapped up and in a wheelchair being wheeled to an ambulance.’
Ms West added that she saw a man being arrested in the car park of the Best One store.
St Helens Neighbourhood Superintendent Sarah Rotherham said: ‘We were called to reports of a man behaving aggressively at the hospital who had assaulted a number of people.
‘Officers attended immediately and the male was swiftly located and arrested.
‘Paramedics attended at the hospital and carried out first aid to those who had been injured.
‘I would like to take this opportunity for anyone who witnessed this incident at the hospital to contact us with any information.’
A spokesperson for the Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: ‘We can confirm that an incident occurred at Newton Hospital today, and the Trust is working closely with Merseyside Police as they conduct their investigations.
‘Our priority is the safety and well-being of our staff, patients, and visitors, and we are providing full support to those affected.
‘If you have an appointment at Newton Hospital or are the next of kin of an inpatient, our team will contact you directly with any updates.’
In a statement, Merseyside Police said: ‘We have arrested a 20-year-old man after reports five people were assaulted at Newton Community Hospital in Newton-Le-Willows this afternoon.
‘Just after 12pm we received a report that a man attended the hospital to request an appointment.
‘At this stage it is believed that his request was declined and when he was asked to leave he became increasingly agitated and damaged a counter before assaulting several people inside the hospital, with a weapon (possibly a crowbar).
‘Those who were injured are currently being treated by paramedics at the hospital for injuries, which are not life-threatening.’
‘Anyone with information on the incident should contact the Merseyside Police social media desk @MerPolCC on X and Facebook quoting reference 25001060801. You can also report information via our website or call 101.
‘Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’
Newton Le-Willows councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron said his father, who lives next door to the hospital, had told him about the attack.
Cllr Gomez-Aspron said: ‘At around 12.10pm I got a phone call from my dad, who lives next to the hospital, to say a family friend had run to his house to tell him that someone was attacking staff within the hospital and damaging the reception area.
‘I live nearby, so I told him to call the police and I rushed to the hospital and so I got there within a few minutes.’
He thanked Merseyside Police and North West Ambulance Service for their swift response and ‘running into a scenario where danger is unknown’.
