Bleeding schoolboy asked for napkins after daylight knife attack left him with head wound

A teenager burst into an Indian restaurant "begging for napkins" after being slashed across the head in a brutal daylight knife attack.

Merseyside Police raced to Duke Street at around 4.20pm on Wednesday, August 13, following reports a boy had been attacked with a bladed weapon.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and the victim, thought to be 15 years old, was rushed to hospital with a minor head laceration. This comes as 13 children have been injured in a freak funfair derailment.

Police confirmed the injured teenager is in a stable condition. According to initial reports, the suspect, described as around 17 or 18 years old, fled the scene on an electric pedal bike.

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A cordon has been established on a stretch of Colquitt Street and a small section of Duke Street outside the Indian Tiffin Room restaurant.

When the Liverpool Echo arrived at the scene, a trail of blood and a bloodied tissue could be seen on the steps outside the restaurant. A bike was also inside the cordon.

A member of staff at the restaurant, who did not wish to be named, described the moment the victim ran into the restaurant "asking for napkins" following the assault.

He said: "He came running in asking for some napkins. He had blood coming out his ear, he was bleeding really badly. We just gave him the napkins and four or five people passing by called the ambulance.

"It happened on Colquitt Street but the guy came running this way looking for help."

The Indian Tiffin Room restaurant remained open to customers.

Merseyside Police slam 'reckless' attack

Chief Inspector Phil Thompson said: "This was a shocking incident and an investigation is ongoing to find the person responsible.

"There would have been plenty of people in the area at the time of the incident, so please get in touch if you saw what happened or have any information."

The Chief Inspector also condemned the use of weapons, saying: "The use of bladed weapons is extremely reckless and will not be tolerated anywhere in Merseyside.

"I would urge people to educate themselves and speak to their children and family members about the dangers of carrying these sorts of weapons on our streets."

He reassured residents that measures were being taken to ensure their safety, adding: "A cordon remains in place at the scene and patrols have been stepped up in the area to provide reassurance to those who live, work and visit our city centre."