Man held over Mercedes stab attack

A man has been arrested after a 59-year-old man was stabbed and left for dead by two raiders who demanded the keys to his Mercedes.

The victim was stabbed 12 times to his arm and neck as he walked out of a relative's home in Hindley, Wigan, on Sunday morning.

He remains in hospital in a serious condition but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "One man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in police custody for questioning."

The raiders immediately stabbed the victim as they told him to hand over the keys to his white Mercedes C220 vehicle shortly after 9.55am. His attackers ran off empty-handed from the address in Worcester Avenue.

Police said there was no known connection between the victim and the offenders in what appeared to be a random opportunist attempted robbery

Detective Inspector Jon Keeley said: "Thankfully, the man is responding well to treatment and is improving by the hour. However, we need to be clear that this is by chance, not design, and the horrific injuries he has sustained could easily have proved fatal such was the ferocity of this attack.

"He was stabbed 12 times just so these would-be thieves could steal his car. There is no history between the offenders and the victim - it appears to simply be a case of an extremely violent robbery by criminals desperate for the vehicle.

"We understand the shock and anxiety this has caused in the community. People are clearly going to be concerned that such an appalling attack has happened on their doorstep, so there will be a heavy police presence in the coming days and I would appeal to anyone who is concerned to speak to any officer."

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 5307 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.