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| Man held over schoolgirl stabbing | Man held over schoolgirl stabbing |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing of a schoolgirl in Lancashire. | A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing of a schoolgirl in Lancashire. |
| Jessica Knight was found "covered in blood" after an unprovoked attack in Astley Park, Chorley, on Monday. | Jessica Knight was found "covered in blood" after an unprovoked attack in Astley Park, Chorley, on Monday. |
| The 14-year-old is in a critical condition after what police described as a "frenzied" knife attack. | The 14-year-old is in a critical condition after what police described as a "frenzied" knife attack. |
| She is now stable after undergoing five hours of surgery. Reports on Tuesday suggested she may have been stabbed up to 30 times. | She is now stable after undergoing five hours of surgery. Reports on Tuesday suggested she may have been stabbed up to 30 times. |
| Police said people heard screams and at 1714 GMT a cyclist found Jessica unconscious and bleeding near Astley Hall, about 80m (262ft) from Hallgate Road. | |
| She received first aid at the scene before she was taken to Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. | |
| This is a particularly nasty assault on a defenceless young girl Det Supt Steve Brunskill | |
| Simon Corlson, 52, who assisted her, said: "A policeman told me later that she'd been stabbed 30 times. | |
| "But I only saw two of the wounds - one to her cheek, the other to her neck, pumping blood." | |
| Police have cordoned off a large area of the park. | |
| Det Supt Steve Brunskill, of Lancashire Police, said Jessica had been spotted on CCTV visiting a local shop at around 1700 GMT, before going to the park. | |
| He said: "This is a particularly nasty assault on a defenceless young girl. | |
| "I can't think of any motive. Until we find whoever is responsible, people should be cautious. | |
| "The circumstances of it are we think it's a random attack. | |
| "The family are very distressed. As far as we are aware, this is a perfectly normal, happy child. | |
| "It's mind-boggling how this can occur in this area." | |
| Extra officers, including mounted police, are currently on patrol in the area. |