A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, as detectives probed the second stabbing on Oxford’s streets in less than a week.
The 27-year-old, from Oxford, was detained after police received reports of a double stabbing on Barns Road, Cowley, in the early hours of Saturday morning. He has since been charged with threatening behaviour with a knife and other matters.
Two men, one in his teens and the other in his 20s, were taken to hospital. One had been discharged by yesterday afternoon. The severity of their injuries was not detailed by the police.
The attack came less than a week after a stabbing in St Aldates in Oxford city centre. A 27-year-old man suffered knife wounds to his arm and back in the early hours of Sunday (August 27). Police confirmed this weekend that they were yet to make an arrest.
READ MORE: Gallery from the scene of 'double attempted murder' in Cowley
Investigating officer DS Alexander McKend of St Aldates police station said: “I understand people may have concerns but you are welcome to discuss these with any of our uniformed officers. We will also be conducting extra patrols in the area.
“Anyone with information or footage should call 101 or make a report on our website, quoting reference number 43230392749.”
Thames Valley Police said its officers received a report of a double stabbing near Cowley Convenience Store at 12.42am on Saturday morning.
The knifeman was also said to have damaged a number of cars and threatened people with the blade.
By 9am on Saturday morning, police had cordoned off Barns Road, part of Hockmore Street, an alleyway leading to The Grates, and parts of Liddell Road.
A blue forensics tent had been put up on the pavement in Liddell Road. Residents described seeing a man being stretchered into the ambulance in the street at around 1.30am.
Police yesterday confirmed that Thomas Jackson, 27, of Barns Road, Oxford, had been charged with making threats with a knife, possession of a blade, criminal damage and assaulting an emergency worker.
A second man, a 34-year-old from Littlemore, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. He was later released under investigation.
READ MORE: No arrests 7 days on from St Aldates 'stabbing'
Residents variously spoke of their surprise or lack of it on seeing the extensive police presence.
“I’m surprised it’s not happened before; the amount of anti-social behaviour [there is],” one woman, 63, said.
A 25-year-old, who had emigrated from Romania to the UK five years ago, said: “It’s Oxford [you think] stuff like that doesn’t happen here. It’s a ghetto here in Cowley.”
Responding to the latest stabbings, Oxford City Council’s cabinet member for safer communities, Cllr Shaista Aziz, said: “I am saddened and disturbed to hear about the stabbings around Barns Road.
“Thames Valley Police are carrying out investigations, Oxford City Council will of course support them if called to do so.”
Last month, figures from the Ministry of Justice showed that, proportionally, fewer offenders were sent to prison for knife crimes last year than in 2019/20.
Of 623 Thames Valley knife offenders, 26 per cent were handed an immediate jail term last year compared to 29 per cent in 2019/20.
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