Schoolgirl critical after stabbing
Updated on 22 January 2008
A 14-year-old girl is in a critical position after being attacked with a knife in a park in Chorley, Lancashire.
Jessica Knight was found with multiple stab wounds in Chorley in Lancashire. The 14-year-old has undergone emergency surgery and remains in a critical condition.
Screams heard
Police revealed the victim had been seen on CCTV cameras at a local shop around 5pm last night. It was normal for her to visit the shops and got to the park with friends.
However, minutes later, members of the public heard screams and around 5.14pm a cyclist in the park came across the unconscious youngster "covered in blood," said Det Supt Brunskill.
The cyclist was joined by two other people coming through the park, and the girl was given first aid. An ambulance arrived within minutes to take her to hospital, about a mile away.
"I'm also interested in speaking to anybody who knows a person who came home yesterday in an agitated state or who may have been blood-stained."Det Supt Brunskill
Police appeal
Forensic scenes of crime officers are now working to search the crime scene; a white tent covers the spot where the girl was attacked. The area has council offices on one side and sheltered housing on the other.
Det Supt Brunskill said, "We are particularly interested in speaking to anyone in the area at that time. It is a busy time, people are walking dogs and coming home from work."
The girl was wearing a black hooded jacket with fur lining, blue jeans and white trainers. There was no evidence it was a sex attack, the officer said.
He asked for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area over the last few weeks to come forward.
On guard
Astley Village is an affluent, semi-rural area north of Chorley.
Police stressed it was a low-crime area and such attacks extremely rare. However, they are urging people in the area to be on their guard.
