Chelmsford stabbing: Man knifed in back near Essex playground

The suspect remains at large after ‘targeted attack’

The attack took place near the Marconi Nature Reserve in Chelmsford at around 6pm on Monday. (Google maps)

A man has been stabbed in a “targeted attack” near a children’s playground in Essex.

The attack took place near the Marconi Nature Reserve in Chelmsford at around 6pm on Monday, Essex Police said.

The victim was airlifted to hospital, where he was treated for injuries and later released.

Following the incident, the area was cordoned off and police cars were seen guarding all entrances to the park.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We were called at around 5.45pm today, Monday, April 1, with reports a man had suffered a stab wound to the back in Central Park.

”We received reports that he was approached by a man close to a children’s play area and attacked, in what we believe to be a targeted attack.

“The man then walked to Meteor Way before being taken to hospital by air ambulance for his injury.

No arrests have been made in connection to the stabbing but detectives are urging anyone with information to call Chelmsford CID on 101 quoting incident 654 of 01/04.

The stabbing came hours after four people were attacked at random by a knifeman in Edmonton, north London.

Three men aged between 23 and 52 and a 45-year-old woman were attacked on Saturday and Sunday.

A fifth person was stabbed in the area in the early hours of Tuesday. It is not yet known if the incidents are linked.

Detective Superintendent Luke Marks, of the North Area Command Unit, said the events caused a huge amount of worry and concern among the community

"While at this stage the incident has not yet been formally linked, the location and manner of this attack will be of concern to the public.

Residents are advised to remain vigilant and to contact police regarding anyone acting suspiciously.

He added: "You will see additional uniformed patrols in the Edmonton area; if you have any concerns, please speak with my officers immediately."

Theresa May is facing mounting pressure from police chiefs to tackle the UK’s knife crime epidemic. There have been more than 20 fatal stabbings in London since the start of the year.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has demanded extra funds saying that there is not denying there was a correlation between the rise in violent crime and falling staff levels.

Ms Dick told LBC: “I think that what we all agree on is that in the last few years police officer numbers have gone down a lot, there’s been a lot of other cuts in public services, there has been more demand for policing and therefore there must be [more resources] and I have consistently said that.“

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: "The police are on the front line in the battle against serious violence and it's vital we give them the right tools to do their jobs."