Mum doesn't let kids out in 'unsafe' area where boy, 14, was attacked with 'bladed weapon'
A mum claims she is too “scared” to let her children play outside amid what she says is spiralling antisocial behaviour in her neighbourhood. The mum's comments come as a 14-year-old schoolboy was seriously injured after being hit on the head with a bladed weapon last night (October 13).
Merseyside Police were called to the incident on Coltart Street, in Toxteth, at around 6.30pm on Sunday. It was reported the boy had been walking on Lodge Lane, near the junction with Coltart Street, when he was attacked by a gang.
A 34-year-old man from Allerton and a 15-year-old male from Toxteth were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. They were still in police custody to be questioned today.
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Following the incident one mum, who lives on Coltart Street, told the ECHO she was "scared" to let her children play in the street because of anti-social behaviour in the area. The 40-year-old mum, who did not want to be named, said: “I noticed the police were there but don’t know anything about what has happened. I noticed they were here about 7.30pm, I only found out because my mum was here and she went to go home and she saw the police had blocked the road.
"I read online that a young boy was attacked. It’s so sad, I have young kids myself, it's scary. But, in that area I don’t think there is a camera so anti-social behaviour is common there. It’s scary when you have young kids at home.
"There are always teenagers standing there, we don’t let our kids play outside because we are worried, we don’t let them outside, it's not safe. It’s not nice for our kids having to grow up around this.”
Another resident, Kevin, claimed the area is a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and called the incident “stupid.” He said: “I never heard anything but I go to bed early, I was in bed at 8.30pm. I went down about 7.30am to go to the shops to pay for my gas and electric and the police told me I couldn’t go through until later.
“He said a 14-year-old got attacked. He got hit over the head, he said. It’s a bit of a hotspot for anti-social behaviour there, it’s not nice on your doorstep. 14 years old, they just get younger, it’s stupid.”
Thomas, who has lived in the area for 40 years, added: “I didn’t hear anything. I can’t believe it was a 14-year-old boy. 14 is so young. It’s not nice. I’ve lived here for 40 years, it’s sound round here. I’ve never had any trouble, you get the odd thing but nothing like this.”
Businesses on Lodge Lane, opposite the cordon on Coltart Street, told the ECHO how they opened this morning and saw the cordon in place. The fruit and veg market said: “I finished work around 7pm and the police were already here. I didn’t see anything happen because we were inside working and just noticed it when we left.”
A cordon remains in place today (Monday, October 14) as investigation continues. CCTV and forensic enquiries are being carried out in the local area by Merseyside Police. Detective Inspector Chris Carlin said: “We are continuing to investigate and to establish the circumstances of what has taken place. It was a busy time of evening so I would appeal to anyone who was in the vicinity of Lodge Lane and seen or heard anything the assault take place to come forward and speak to us.
“I also urge people in the area to check your CCTV footage, or if you were driving along Lodge Lane and have dashcam please review the footage to see if it has captured the incident or leading up to it, no matter how small, as any information may help with the investigation.”
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC on X or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 24000874339.