Teenage boy stabbed in minibus outside mosque after three men smash through windows in unprovoked attack

A teenage boy in Manchester has been left in hospital after he was attacked by three men and repeatedly stabbed while waiting inside a minibus for a lift to work.

Greater Manchester Police are appealing for witnesses after releasing details of the “shocking” knife attack in the Longsight area that took place shortly before 5pm on Friday afternoon.

The 17-year-old was sitting inside the parked vehicle on Beresford Road, waiting to be driven to his workplace, when three men smashed through a window and stabbed him several times.

The attackers fled along Beresford Road in the direction of Dickenson Road. The teenager remains in hospital and is receiving treatment for serious injuries, according to police.

Detectives are appealing for anyone with information about the attack to come forward.

Detective Inspector Carol Hobson, of GMP’s City of Manchester division, said: “This was a shocking incident that happened in broad daylight and left a teenager in hospital. Our thoughts remain with him and his family as he receives treatment for his injuries.

“We have launched a full investigation and are currently following several lines of enquiry to establish the full circumstances surrounding this attack and find those responsible.”

Rabnawaz Akbar, a councillor for the Rusholme ward, arrived at the scene of the attack as police were cordoning off the area.

Eyewitnesses told him the teenager was waiting for a lift to work outside a row of shops next to the local mosque.

“The community is in shock,” Mr Akbar told The Manchester Evening News. "Beresford Road is a very densely populated area, it’s very busy. There were young people as young as six at that time going to the mosque nearby.”

Police have increased patrols in the Longsight area following the knife attack.

“I would urge anyone that was in the area at the time of the attack that saw anything suspicious, or anyone with any information to please get in touch as soon as possible,” said Detective Inspector Hobson.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 64382 or 101 quoting incident number 1313 of 21/09/2018. Reports can also be made anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.