Junaid Nawaz, 30, of Livingstone Walk, Brierfield, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a knife in a public place following the stabbing of a 17-year-old girl in Brierfield, Lancashire. The incident occurred on Friday, June 12, at approximately 3:00 PM BST on Wood Street. Emergency services were called to the scene after reports of a teenager being stabbed in the back of the neck.
The victim, who has not been identified, was taken to hospital for treatment. Lancashire Police confirmed that her injuries were not life-threatening, and she has since been discharged and is recovering at home. Nawaz, described by Lancashire Police as a British-born local man of Pakistani heritage, was arrested shortly after the incident.
Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, charges were announced on Sunday, June 14. Nawaz was remanded in custody and was scheduled to appear before Blackburn Magistrates Court on Monday, June 15. The attack, which was unprovoked and occurred in broad daylight, has caused significant concern within the local community.
Local Member of Parliament for Brierfield, Oliver Ryan, addressed the public, urging residents to "stick to the facts" and not "exploit" the incident. He clarified that both the alleged attacker and the victim are British residents and local to the Brierfield area. This statement came amidst some social media commentary, including a tweet from Leo Kearse, which suggested the incident had received insufficient media attention.
The police have asked anyone who witnessed the stabbing, or who may have CCTV or doorbell camera footage from the area, to come forward with information. Extra patrols were deployed in Brierfield following the incident to provide reassurance to the community.
