A manhunt is underway after a man was stabbed in Middlesbrough on Thursday, in the latest incident in the town this week.
Cleveland Police said a 39-year-old man is receiving treatment following an assault involving a bladed weapon in Eston at around midday.
Police said the incident took place in an address on Sedgemoor Road.
In a statement, police said: “No arrests have been made at this time, however, enquiries are ongoing into the incident.”
A neighbour who saw the man following the incident told the Mail: “He was running around the estate trying to get help and had what seemed to be really severe wounds to his arm and hand.”
The assault is the latest in a series of incidents in Middlesbrough this week. Earlier on Thursday, another house in Middlesbrough suffered damage after being hit by a car.
Police are investigating reports of a vehicle crashing into the wall of a property on Steele Crescent, South Bank, at around 12.30am on Thursday.
The latest incident is close to the scenes of a crash on the A66, in which seven people died on Saturday, and a house fire in Grangetown where a seven-year-old girl and her aunt were killed.
Cleveland Police said it has not been confirmed whether there is any link to the latest incident, or a previous car ramming last Saturday.
Superintendent Emily Harrison said: “The property was empty at the time and we have not currently received any reports of any injuries.
“Officers are conducting enquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident. Our investigation is in its early stages and it has not yet been confirmed whether this incident is linked to wider organised crime.”
It comes after Valentina Foster, aged seven, and Natalie McDonald, 34, died following a fire at an end-of-terrace property in Birchington Avenue, Grangetown, during the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Cleveland Police said two men, aged 23 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and they remain in police custody following the fire.
Lisa Kirton, Ms McDonald’s mother, told The Times that her daughter “was a beautiful, bubbly person who everyone knew” and that Ms McDonald’s niece was “a very cute girl”.
The brother of a woman killed in a house fire near Middlesbrough said she was not involved in gangs.
Josh Kirton, the devastated brother of Ms McDonald, told reporters: “My sister was not involved with anything to do with gangs, or the (crash on the) A66.
“That’s what makes this so senseless.
“People think they can do whatever they like.
“There’s some terrible people in the world and now my sister and Valentina have gone.”
The force said that a 48-year-old woman remains in a critical condition in the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle. Three other people suffered injuries which are believed to be non-life-threatening.
Prime minister Andy Burnham said “all of the support will be provided to get to the heart of what has happened” after the “utterly devastating” fire.
The force would not rule out a link between the blaze and the A66 crash which killed two police officers and five young men.
Following the incidents, Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said more than 200 extra police officers have been, or will be, deployed from around the country to support Cleveland Police.
On social media, he said: “Thank you so much to the superintendent from Cleveland Police that has just taken their time to give updates to myself, Anna Turley (MP for Redcar), South Bank and Grangetown Ward councillors.
“They are working 20-hour days to ensure the ongoing safety of innocent residents.
“Over 200 extra police officers from forces around the country are here and are en route, from detectives to armed response.”
