Forensics and officers search West Pottergate after stabbing

The suspect fled the scene following an attack in which the victim was stabbed in broad daylight at a busy footpath by flats in West Pottergate near Grapes Hill.  

Despite attempts by emergency services, including the air ambulance, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.Forensic teams at the police cordon in West Pottergate working through the night (Image: Bruno Brown)

A heavy police presence remains in the area today (Image: Bruno Brown) The stabbing happened just after the underpass in Pottergate (Image: Bruno Brown)

Witnesses said that a man was wounded “brutally” and “gruesomely” in the chest and that police were seen giving CPR to the victim who was lying still on the floor.

 Locals have said that the efforts to save the man's life "were all but too late".

A privacy tent has been set up at the scene as forensics and police search the area and begin a murder investigation.

Officers are reportedly using a drone and police dogs in their hunt.

Bins and bushes were being thoroughly searched in an effort to find the weapon.

Detectives say it is an isolated incident and urgent inquiries are ongoing to find the suspect.

Forensic teams and police working overnight at the scene of the stabbing in West Pottergate (Image: Bruno Brown)

Detective superintendent Dave Freeman said: “We understand this is a deeply concerning incident and we are working hard to locate the suspect.

“A number of police resources have been deployed to the scene and we are in the early stages of our enquiries to establish the circumstances around this incident.

"At this time I do not believe there to be any wider risk to the public.

“This happened during daylight hours and there would have been people in the area. I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident or saw anything suspicious to contact police.”

Forensic teams and police working overnight at the scene of the stabbing in West Pottergate (Image: Bruno Brown)

Police combing the area following the attack (Image: Newsquest) Forensics setting up the police cordon following the stabbing (Image: Newsquest)

A police cordon remains in the area this morning (Image: Bruno Brown)