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‘This is why I don’t go out as often’: Shock and fear after Gedling stabbing

By Tegan Maass, Mia Whitehouse and Rhiannon Dunbar

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People living close to the scene of a stabbing in Gedling say they have been left frightened and in shock.

A 45-year-old man has been arrested following a manhunt – which was launched following the stabbing outside the Co-op on Westdale Lane East at about 10.30pm on Tuesday (May 6).

As forensics specialists began to examine a scene behind a police cordon on Wednesday morning, people living nearby described hearing police response vehicles arrive overnight, followed by the sound of helicopters circling overhead.

One person who lives close to the scene, who did not want to be named, said they heard a confrontation followed by the sound of police sirens.

“It’s happened on a busy road as well, there are always cars driving past – it’s a very wide open place,” they said.

Ian Leverton, 50, who works at nearby Ken’s Motors, was surprised to hear of the attack, saying: “I couldn’t get to work this morning, I had to go all the way around to get here.

“It’s not usually that bad of an area around here, I mean you get your bits and bobs, but nothing like that.

“I think it seems quite serious at the moment, they’ve told us the road will be closed for the rest of the day.”

Another person living on the road, said she was shocked at what she woke up to, saying: “I’ve lived here for 25 years and I’ve never known anything like this to happen.”

On Facebook some users reacted with concern following a series of other unconnected incidents in Nottinghamshire in recent months.

Commenting on a Facebook post from Nottinghamshire Police, Magdalena Godzieba said: “Are we safe anywhere these days? This is very worrying.”

Another user, Mel Lupton said: “What is this city coming to? It’s becoming a horrible place to live in. I hope the man is ok.”

Laura Rae added: “This is why I don’t go out as often as I used to. I’d rather stay at home.”

A police cordon remains in place around the scene. The victim was taken to hospital with what police described as serious injuries.

Anyone with information should call the police on 999 or 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Bus services were being diverted around the cordon on Wednesday, and the Co-op, which had already closed for the night at the time of the incident, also remained shut.