Six youths have been arrested while police were investigating a stabbing in Shirley this afternoon.
Superintendent Lane Todd, Canterbury Metro Area Commander, said the arrests were for unrelated offences.
The youths have been charged with unlawfully taking motor vehicles and burglary, and are due to appear in Youth Court at a later date.
“This behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Anyone who chooses to engage in this behaviour can expect to be held to account,” Todd said.
The arrests happened as police followed “positive lines of enquiry” into a stabbing on Joy Street around 3.25pm, as first reported by Chris Lynch Media.
A man was taken to Christchurch Hospital in a serious condition after being attacked by a separate group of youths.
St John said they responded with an ambulance and two rapid response vehicles.
Witnesses reported the offenders fled in a vehicle, with police pursuing it before calling off the chase due to heavy traffic.
A bystander said they saw the vehicle speeding down Aldwins Road in the cycle lane, narrowly avoiding a head-on crash.
Police later responded to sightings in Dallington, where a local woman said one of the alleged offenders was her 14-year-old cousin.
