Another person has been stabbed at Manchester Piccadilly

Both stabbings were just a few hours apart

A man was stabbed outside the Co-op in Manchester Piccadilly last night, Manchester Evening News have confirmed.

The stabbing happened just a few hours after a person was knifed in Piccadilly Gardens, just a few hundred yards away.

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Greater Manchester Police believe "from witness accounts so far, it is believed several white men carried out the assault which left him suffering two stab wounds". GMP are currently investigating whether the two incidents are linked.

Police were called to attend the scene of the initial stabbing in Piccadilly Gardens at 7:37pm.

At 9:56pm, a man in his 20s was stabbed twice outside Co-op.

The GMP statement added: "Officers from GMP’s City of Manchester division and specialist detectives are currently carrying out enquiries to establish exactly what has happened in both incidents and whether they are linked."

Det Insp Lisa Ogden said: "We are doing everything we can understand the full circumstances surrounding both attacks and I must stress we are still in the very early stages of our enquiries.

"Attacks like this, so close to each other, are rare and there will be extra patrols in the area over the coming days so please approach an officer if you have any concerns.

"We’d urge anyone with any information to contact police immediately."

Updates to follow.