Police in Blackpool have arrested two men after two separate disturbances in the town centre in the early hours of Thursday (23 July) that left two other men injured.
Incidents on Queen Street and Talbot Road
The first reported incident occurred at around 3am close to the Queen Street, Abingdon Street and Talbot Road junctions. Officers say a man in his 30s sustained a stab-type wound to his hand after an incident outside Bar 19 on Queen Street; he has since been discharged from hospital. A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm and remains in custody.
Slightly later the same morning police attended a separate disturbance on Talbot Road. A man in his 20s suffered serious head injuries and remains in hospital. A 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm and also remains in custody.
"We know that there were a number of people in the area at the time of the disturbance, and there will be people we haven’t yet spoken to. If this was you, it’s really important that you get in touch with us."
The force has described the events as isolated and not connected to each other, but has increased patrols in the area as a precaution and to reassure the public while enquiries continue.
- Timeframe: Early hours of 23 July (first reported around 3am)
- Locations: Queen Street (outside Bar 19) and Talbot Road, Blackpool
- Injuries: man in 30s with stab-type wound (now discharged); man in 20s with serious head injuries (in hospital)
- Arrests: a 38-year-old and a 40-year-old arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm
How the public can help
Officers have appealed directly to anyone who was in the area at the time or who may have captured footage of the disturbances to come forward, stressing the importance of channelled information for an ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information or footage that could assist police is asked to call 101 quoting log 0159 of 23rd July. The force has also asked people to refrain from online speculation while enquiries are in progress, noting that there are real people affected by these incidents.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| First location | Queen Street (outside Bar 19) |
| Second location | Talbot Road |
| People arrested | 38-year-old (first incident), 40-year-old (second incident) |
| Victim status | One discharged from hospital; one remains in hospital with serious head injuries |
Local residents and visitors are advised to be attentive to police requests for information and to share any relevant material directly with officers rather than posting it widely online. Lancashire Constabulary says its increased presence in the area is intended to provide reassurance while detectives pursue enquiries.
