Investigation continues after two women stabbed in Southampton attack

Police launched a major investigation after the incident in the early hours of yesterday morning, which left two women injured and a third woman in police custody.

A 24-year-old woman received cuts to her chest while a 26-year-old woman suffered injuries to her arm in the attack, which happened in the Weston area of the city.

Now, neighbours have spoken of their concern for their children’s safety following the incident.

Both victims were yesterday receiving hospital treatment at Southampton General Hospital.

According to police, their wounds are not believed to be life-threatening.

Detectives launched an investigation into the incident after officers were called shortly after 1am on Sunday to Wadhurst Gardens.

Officers were searching bins yesterday, knocking on doors and patrolling the area as part of their investigation. Neighbours told the Daily Echo that a party had been going on in a flat nearby shortly before the incident.

Mark Simmons, 48 and his wife Lucy, 39 woke to the sound of shouting and music after midnight before hearing the slam of metal garden gates – a while later police arrived at the scene.

Mark said: “We have lived here for about nine years.

It’s a fairly good area. We all say hello and all the kids like to play outside so this incident has shaken quite a few people.

“There had been a party and we could hear people playing music and having fun as you would expect but the noise didn’t seem excessive.

Lucy and Mark Simmons

“Then we heard a lot of shouting and assumed they were just mucking around but police arrived and we soon discovered two women had been stabbed.

Lucy added: “I’m terrified by it, I have two daughters and it’s just disgusting to think something like this can happen so close to home.

“I would never have thought anything like this could happen around here but then I suppose you never know what people are capable of.

“I have that horrible sick feeling in my stomach.

As a mother it’s petrifying to hear something like this happen near you and your babies – thank goodness their injuries aren’t lifethreatening.

“The police patrol this area fairly regularly because we’re not far from the station and they are always very good if something happens and they are doing a great job talking to residents.”

Karen Clarke, who lives in a house near where the incident happened, said: “I just heard lots of sirens. It’s shocking and very unsettling. I find it really disturbing.”

Fellow neighbour Adam Bellamy added: “I can’t believe it has happened so close to where I live.

“There are a lot of kids in the area and it’s horrible for such a crime to happen near them.”

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: “I heard lots of shouting but just assumed it was people in the street, we get lots of people walking through here because there is a shortcut from the forest.

“It’s horrifying and I’m stunned to hear such a vicious attack happened right on my doorstep.”

A 33-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, following the incident.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokeswoman said she could not confirm or deny whether the incident was linked to the party.

However, she said the victims knew their attacker and that it is believed a knife was used.

She added: “We would ask anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact Southampton CID.”

Anyone with information is asked to call CID in Southampton on 101.