Four police officers escorted a man from a hospital after he allegedly attacked a number of people with a “crowbar” around midday on Tuesday (30 December). The suspect, a 20-year–old man originally from Afghanistan, is said to have become “increasingly agitated” when his request for a hospital appointment was refused and he was asked to leave. Soon after, Merseyside Police were called to Newton Community Hospital in Newton-le-Willows following reports that a man had assaulted a group of people. 

The suspect is said to have damaged a hospital counter before attacking at least five people. Their injuries are reportedly not life-threatening. Video footage seen by the Liverpool Echo showed the moment a man was escorted by four police officers from the hospital into a waiting van, with at least six further patrol cars surrounding the building.

Local councillor, Seve Gomez-Aspron, told the Echo that a family friend had run to his Dad’s house nearby saying that someone was attacking staff in the hospital. 

He said: “At around 12.10pm I got a phone call from my dad, who lives next to the hospital, to say a family friend had run to his house to tell him that someone was attacking staff within the hospital and damaging the reception area.

“I live nearby, so I told him to call the police and I rushed to the hospital and so I got there within a few minutes. From receiving the call, to arriving, there had been a massive emergency response to deal with the incident.”

A local shop worker told the news website that a woman ran into her store covered in blood, asking her to call the police. 

“She had a lot of blood at the back of her head and on her shoulder. She was shaking and upset,” Sugedaran Shanmugaraja said. 

“I had to stay with the customers because I had a long queue but I passed her my phone and she called police. Next thing there were 10 or 15 police cars and an ambulance. I gave her a bottle of water and then a hospital nurse came in and helped the lady.”

Forensics were seen at the hospital for the remainder of the day, with police vehicles stationed outside. The building was reportedly blocked off to the public in the evening after the attack.

It is not yet known who the victims are, but it is reported that both hospital employees and patients were injured.