Counter-terror cops arrest man on suspicion of murder after 'knife attack'

16 October 2023 , 08:26

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Multiple police officers were investigating at the scene (Image: Evening Gazette)

Counter-terrorism officers have arrested a suspect on suspicion of murder and attempted murder following the death of a man of a man in violence that saw streets sealed off, ambulances called out and a large knife recovered.

Police found the potential weapon on the pavement beside a residential road after being called to disorder in Hartlepool, County Durham, at around 5.45am yesterday. Two areas in the town were last night sealed off as crime scenes, and a forensic tent was in place.

Cleveland Police confirmed a 44-year-old man was arrested after the force worked with Counter Terrorism Policing North East on the investigation. He was detained on suspicion of murder and attempted murder as another man suffered non-life threatening injuries after he was allegedly assaulted.

The investigation in Hartlepool, County Durham, continues today (Evening Gazette)

Three ambulances were called to the scene, on a residential road in the seaside town. The involvement of counter-terrorism officers is due to "initial inquiries", Cleveland Police said.

The force said in a statement: "Counter Terrorism Policing has deployed its specialist capabilities to help establish what happened. It is not believed that there is any outstanding threat to the public and the local community connected to this incident.

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"A cordon remains in place and a search is ongoing at a property in the area. The man who was assaulted was taken to hospital and remains there with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries."

One resident has described the incident as "madness". They told Teesside Live: “It was about 6am the air ambulance was here. There's a cordon just outside the police station as well. It's madness. I think they took someone to hospital. I've seen loads of police driving about Hartlepool. [It] looks really serious.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to an incident on Raby Street, Hartlepool this morning (15 October) at 5:43am. We dispatched three ambulance crews and one doctor."

The crime scene tent was last night just metres from a bus stop and the junction with Avenue Road. White-suited crime scene investigators were working at the scene. There are four officers probing the scene near the blue tent. The cordon spans a huge area and is preventing the public from being within 100 metres of the crime scene tent.

Jade McElwee