Man stabbed in attempted carjacking in Tonge Moor

The victim suffered his injuries after being dragged from his Audi A4 on the corner of Bleak Street and Back Tonge Moor Road.

A gang of up to five men are believed to have been involved and they were reportedly armed with a knife and a metal bar.

Nearby residents then chased off the attackers after hearing his cries for help.

One man ran to the victim’s aid and saw the attackers throw the victim to the ground before running away.

It is understood they did not manage to steal the car.

The victim was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital with superficial wounds, and is not thought to have suffered any serious injuries.

A police spokesman said: “One of the men has opened the front passenger door and sat in the front seat.

“The victim has tried to accelerate away but the man has grabbed the steering wheel and the car has collided with a stationary vehicle. 

“A second man has then leaned into the driver’s window and waved a knife around and told him to get out.

“A struggle then ensued and the victim received a stab wound to his torso.”

No arrests have been made so far.

Scott Berry, who lives nearby, said he saw the man being hit by a man armed with a metal bar and a knife.

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He said: “At first I thought it was just kids messing about round the back but when we went round we saw this guy hitting someone with this metal bar.

“The bigger of the two had him by the throat but when I stepped towards him he threw him to the floor and ran away.

“I think they were trying to take the car but they couldn’t get to it because we were in the way.”

Mr Berry said as well as the two men he approached, there were three other men involved further down the road.

Police describe one man as black, aged between 18 and 25, about 5ft 8in tall, of medium build and wearing a silver or grey bandana on his head.

A second man is described as aged 20 to 25, of medium build, about 5ft 8in tall, clean shaven, with blonde, neatly cut hair and a long face.

They were in the company of three other white men, aged in their teens.

On approaching the attackers, he added: “I just did, instinct kicked in really.

“I think it would have been a lot worse had they not left. They looked like they were going to damage him.”

The parked car damaged in the incident is believed to belong to a customer inside tanning salon The Beach Hut in Tonge Moor Road at the time..

Jayne Howarth, a member of staff there, said: “It is shocking really that this has happened in the day time.

“A lot of kids go down that back alley as well.

“I do think a few people have seen what was going on but nobody seems to know the full story.”

Sheila Orrell, aged 90, has lived in Tonge Moor Road since 1966 and saw the commotion as she was travelling to her son’s house.

She said: “I was across the street and saw the police ribbon draped across the street and somebody told me someone had been stabbed.

“I don’t like the area to be honest. Nobody has the money these days to buy the houses, meaning people are renting them for three months at a time and then moving on.

“It has changed a lot since I first moved here.”

Police have said that it is not believed that this incident is linked to the aggravated burglary in Cox Green Road, Egerton on September 7,

There a family including children were held hostage by five men armed with hammers.

Four men, all from Tonge Moor, were subsequently arrested and bailed.  

There is also no evidence to suggest that the victim knew his attackers, but enquiries continue.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.