Two people are stabbed in Marks & Spencer and left seriously injured as police arrest knife suspect 

Two women were today stabbed as they shopped in Marks & Spencer just hours after all non-essential stores reopened in England. 

A local man, 57, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the attack in Burnley at around 9.30am, Lancashire Police said. 

The two victims were rushed to hospital with ‘serious but not threatening’ injuries following what is believed to be an ‘isolated incident.’

The stabbing came as shoppers flocked back to the High Street after the national coronavirus lockdown was lifted and all shops reopened on ‘Wild Wednesday.’

Footage from the scene captured a man in a face mask being detained by officers outside the store in Lancashire this morning.   

Witnesses claimed a girl was stabbed in the neck during the attack, but this has not yet been confirmed.  

Lancashire Police said a knife was recovered from the scene. 

Pictured: A man is arrested outside a Marks & Spencer store in Burnley today after a double stabbing

Footage from the scene captured a man in a face mask being detained by officers outside the store in Lancashire this morning. Pictured: The scene today

A cordon is in place in the area and video from the scene shows a crowd of onlookers gathering near the Charter Walk Shopping Centre. 

St James’s Street remains closed in both directions between Brown Street and Hammerton Street in the town following the police incident. 

Lancashire Police and the North West Ambulance Service raced to the store near St James’ Street following reports of the double stabbing today.   

Officers confirmed nobody else is thought to be involved in the attack but asked anyone with information to get in touch. 

A force spokesman said: ‘We were called at about 9.30am today to a report of a stabbing inside the Marks and Spencer store in Burnley.

‘Two women received injuries which are thankfully not thought to be life threatening at this time. They have been taken to hospital for treatment.

Two women were today rushed to hospital with ‘serious but not threatening’ injuries following what is believed to be an ‘isolated incident’ in Burnley. Pictured: The scene

A local man, 57, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the attack at around 9.30am today, Lancashire Police said. Pictured: The scene

‘Police officers were quickly on the scene and a 57-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is currently in custody.

‘A knife has been recovered.

‘Police enquiries are ongoing but at this stage this is believed to be an isolated incident.

‘Patrols will remain in the area as reassurance through the day. Anyone with information or concerns can approach an officer.’

Lancashire Police and the North West Ambulance Service raced to the store near St James’ Street following reports of the double stabbing today

Witnesses claimed a girl was stabbed in the neck during the attack, but this has not yet been confirmed. Pictured: The scene today

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting log 0313 of December 2.  

It comes as eager Christmas shoppers in England were able to hit the High Street for the first time in four weeks as the national lockdown restrictions were lifted. 

Today is being branded ‘Wild Wednesday’ because shops can stay open all night to claw back some of £900million-a-day economic hit caused by the Prime Minister’s controversial tier system.  

In Burnley, which is under the tightest Tier 3 rules, the town centre was busy with shoppers looking to visit non-essential shops for the first since since November 5.

However, Marks & Spencer had remained open as an essential business throughout England’s second Covid-19 lockdown.