Police are still trying to piece together reports of a man armed with a machete chasing another man down a street in Knowle on Sunday evening, after local residents called 999, sparking a major police response.
Specialist firearms officers, dog handlers and the police drone unit descended on an area of Knowle Park following the reports, which began to come in from around 6.20pm, on Sunday, June 23.
Local residents reported seeing a man with a large bladed knife - described by one eye-witness as 'a machete' - chase another from a spot near the Tesco store on the junction of Axbridge Road and Friendship Road, some of the way down Friendship Road towards the Wells Road and Redcatch Park. Those reports are still largely unconfirmed, because police still haven't been able to find either the attacker or the victim.
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By the time the police got there, both men had left the scene and were not located, despite the large search of the area. On Monday morning, Avon and Somerset police said they believed they had identified the victim of the attack, and are trying to find him to make sure he is ok and getting any treatment he needs.
Forensic teams have been examining the scene of the incident, which has been pointed out by local residents, and officers are undertaking house-to-house inquiries today, Monday June 24.
In a statement issued by Avon and Somerset police, a spokesperson appealed for anyone who knows who was involved, or saw what happened, to get in touch.
"At around 6.20pm yesterday, Sunday 23 June, we received a report a man had been attacked with a bladed weapon on Axbridge Road, Bristol," she said. "Officers, including specialist firearms officers, were deployed to the scene but both the offender and the victim had left by the time they arrived.
"An extensive search of the area was subsequently carried out by officers on the ground, assisted by the dog and drone units, but neither of those involved were located. We believe we’ve identified the victim as a man in his 30s and enquiries to find him to check on his welfare are ongoing. The offender also remains outstanding," she added.
"Specialist crime scene investigators have examined the scene while both house to house and CCTV enquiries are underway.
Anyone with information which could help our investigation into the incident is asked to phone 101 and provide the call handler with the reference 5224162622," she said.
