Three men have been stabbed next to a church graveyard as a man, 34, is arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The horrifying attack, thought to be caused by a knife, happened on the St Mary’s Butts street in the town centre of Reading, Berkshire, at around 3.25am today.
One male in his teens, one in his twenties and another in his thirties suffered serious injuries in the shocking incident near St Mary’s Church.
All of them were taken to hospital, where the man in his late teens has now been discharged, while the others remain.
The arrested man, who is from Reading, remains in custody, with Thames Valley Police officers now appealing for information and witnesses.
Pictures show a massive police cordon around the nearby busy thoroughfare of St Mary’s Butts, near the Oracle shopping centre and several popular bars.
Multiple police vans and cruisers were seen guarding the scene of the triple-stabbing horror, around which the town centre has essentially shut down.
The area is a major transport route for buses and private vehicles – so the cordon caused heavy traffic disruption on an already hectic weekend afternoon.
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said a scene-watch is currently in place at the site of the brutal attack while investigations continue.
Detective Inspector Sally Russell said: ‘We know this attempted murder will cause concern but we are investigating it as a high priority, with one suspect currently in police custody.
‘There is a large scene-watch in place in St Mary’s Butts so people will see an increased police presence in the area while officers and staff carry out enquiries.
‘I understand people may have concerns but you are welcome to discuss these with any of our uniformed officers.
‘Anyone with information or footage should call 101 or make a report on our website, quoting reference number 43250406185.
‘We believe there may have been numerous witnesses to the incident, including those with mobile phone footage of it and/or the aftermath.
‘So please send any footage or photos to us instead of sharing on social media.
‘Alternatively, provide information anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.
‘Lastly, I understand the scene is causing some disruption in the town centre but please be patient while we investigate.
‘We will reduce and remove the scene as soon as we are able to. We apologies for any inconvenience caused.’
