Woman stabbed in leg in drug-related attack (From Daily Echo)

Woman, 22, stabbed in leg in drug-related attack in Southampton

4:30pm Thursday 9th August 2012 in Southampton By Matt Smith, Politics and business reporter

A YOUNG woman was stabbed in the leg in a block of flats in Southampton in a suspected drug-related attack.

The 22-year-old woman was stabbed in a communal area of flats in The Compass, Chapel Road, St Mary’s before she managed to escape and make contact with police.

Four people from London – a 21-year-old man, two men aged 17 and an 18-year-old woman – were last night being held on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm following the incident.

A 20-year-old man from Southampton was also being held on suspicion of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply.

The arrests were made as part of Operation Fortress, a Daily Echo backed two-year campaign to target drug-related violence in Southampton.

The woman suffered minor injuries in the attack which happened at around 3.30pm on Tuesday and was treated by ambulance crews who were called to the scene.

Detective Inspector Gary Towse from the Operation Fortress team said: “This is a serious incident which has understandably had a significant impact on the local community. Thankfully the woman was not seriously injured.

“We’re treating this as a targeted assault and are investigating it as part of our campaign to reduce drug-related violence in Southampton.”

DI Towse appealed to the local community for information and for any witnesses who may have spotted a grey Renault Megane in the St Mary’s area at the time.

The attack comes as four more people have been arrested after a drugs raid in Southampton.

Seven people were initially arrested and charged after officers raided a house in Northbrook Road last month.

In the past week a 30-year-old Southampton woman has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of heroin. In London, a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

And a man, 37 and a woman, 29, were also arrested in Southampton on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs. All four have been bailed pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information can contact the Operation Fortress team on 101 or the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.