Overview
- The incident occurred shortly after midday on Tuesday at Newton Community Hospital in Newton-le-Willows, with victims sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
- Merseyside Police arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of five counts of Section 18 wounding, affray and criminal damage, and identified him as originally from Afghanistan.
- Officers recovered the metal bar for forensic examination and are reviewing CCTV and witness statements as a police cordon and mobile station remain in place.
- Police later confirmed six people required hospital or walk‑in treatment for injuries including head lacerations and wounds to arms and hands, and all are stable.
- The hospital trust said it is working closely with police and supporting staff, patients and visitors, while officers appealed for information via Merseyside Police or Crimestoppers.