Greater Manchester Police get more stop and search powers after serious assaults
Among those attacked was a man who was stabbed in the leg and head in a car park at a retail park in Chadderton Way
Three men have been victims of serious assaults in less than two hours in Greater Manchester, prompting police to be granted extra stop and search powers as they investigate whether the incidents are linked.
Among those attacked was a man who was stabbed in the leg and head in a car park at a retail park in Chadderton Way, Greater Manchester Police said.
The 21-year-old is in hospital after the incident just before 7.30pm on Thursday, and another 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of serious assault and violent disorder and remains in custody.
Earlier, at around 5.50pm, a 26-year-old man was attacked in the Butler Green area of Chadderton.
He is in hospital with potentially life-changing injuries, police said.
In the third incident, just after 7.30pm on Featherstall Road North, Oldham, another man was stabbed and is being treated in hospital.
Police remain at the scenes which are all within about two miles of each other.
The force said a section 60 order, which gives officers enhanced powers to stop and search individuals across the area and is designed to prevent serious violence, is in place in a large area of Chadderton and Oldham.
Officers said they cannot yet confirm if the incidents are linked.
Detective Sergeant Jennifer O'Brien said: "Our investigations have begun into what led to all of these serious assaults in such a short space of time and locality, and those living in the local area should expect to see an increased presence whilst we conduct enquiries.
"I understand that there will be fear amongst the community due to the volume of incidents and their nature, and whilst we haven't yet established if these are linked, we do believe them to be targeted.
"We are working at pace to identify suspects across all of these incidents and support the young men in hospital with injuries.
"Knife crime has no place within Oldham, or Greater Manchester, and our neighbourhood teams alongside the dedicated knife crime team which operates force wide, Op Venture, continue to make many arrests, seizures and proactively disrupt those who wish to commit offences with weapons."
Anyone with information which could help police is asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.