The actions of a few violent individuals ‘marred’ the Parklife Weekender, say police after the festival was rocked by three stabbings and 29 arrests.
The two-day event, which saw more than 70,000 revellers descend on Heaton Park last weekend, saw offences ranging from assault, drugs offences and theft.
Chief Inspector Gary Simpson said: “It is a shame that such a well-attended event is marred by the actions of a few individuals intent on inflicting violence upon other people.
“The overwhelming majority of young people attending this event were good natured and well behaved and we will do all we can to find the people who were responsible for these terrible acts of violence.”
There were a number of isolated violent attacks on Saturday saw resulted in two men being stabbed and another suffering serious head injuries following an assault.
The victim of the assault remains in a critical condition at Hope Hospital after he was attacked while dancing with his girlfriend in front of the festival’s main stage.
Police are still appealing for witnesses to the assault, which took place at around 9.15pm in front of the main stage.
The offender is described as a mixed-race man, aged approximately 25, around 6ft tall with a muscly build. He has short, black, curly hair which was shaved at both sides.
Two men were arrested at the scene in relation to another two stabbings at 7.30pm, but were later released with cautions for drug possession.
One stabbing victim was treated and discharged at the scene, though the other remains in a serious, but stable condition in Manchester Royal Infirmary.
A third stabbing occurred on Sunday at around 8.30pm near the main stage, where a man was attacked by an unknown male offender wielding a Stanley knife.
The victim suffered a large facial injury as a result of the attack.
Anyone with any information about any of the incidents is asked to call police on 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Image courtesy of Richard Hopkins with thanks
