Sussex Police race to tackle ’mass fight’ as two in critical condition and five arrested

02 April 2024 , 18:30

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Sussex Police race to tackle ’mass fight’ as two in critical condition and five arrested

Five men have been arrested in Hove, West Sussex, following reports of a fight leading to several injuries - some of which are critical wounds as three men are in hospital

Two men are fighting for their lives in hospital after an altercation on a residential road.

The fracas happened at around 2.15pm in Hove, West Sussex, and led to the arrest of five men. A third man taken to hospital has minor injuries. A large police cordon remains in place along Boundary Road in the seaside resort and officers have been pictured gathering material, thought to be evidence, from the scene.

One witness said: "It was a little bit scary to watch. The police turned up about five, ten minutes later." Other witnesses reported seeing both a road ambulance and an air ambulance arrive.

A spokesman for West Sussex Constabulary said: "Five men have been arrested following reports of an altercation between a group of people in Portslade this afternoon. Emergency services were called to Station Road, Portslade, at around 2.15pm to reports of a fight. Three men have been taken to hospital, with two in critical condition and another suffering minor injuries, understood to have been caused by weapons. Five men have been arrested and have been transported to custody.

"Officers are carrying out searches in the area and there will be a heightened police presence at this time. Traffic is being diverted away from the Church Road junction on Station Road while emergency services work at the scene and we urge anyone travelling to seek alternate routes."

Chief Inspector Jim Smith said: “A fast-moving investigation is underway into this incident, but it is believed that all individuals involved are known to one another and there is no threat to the wider public. There is likely to be an increased police presence in the area for some time, and I would like to thank for the public for their patience and understanding while this is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to report via our online form or via 101 quoting Operation Linden."

Some photographs taken at the scene and published by Brighton Argus this afternoon show a forensic officer collect a large piece of wood and put it into a container. Another image shows an officer take a close-up photograph of an item on the road, which runs from Portslade train station to the seaport basin of Shoreham harbour in the south.

James Smith