Two teenagers are in critical condition following surgery for stab wounds sustained outside a Sydney pub on the weekend.
A gathering of reportedly up to 300 people were celebrating a 22nd birthday at the Norfolk Hotel, on Cleveland Street, Redfern.
Police were called around 3am to disperse the group, as they collected on the street. Officers found no offences and the partygoers were moved along.
But shortly after, around 3:45am, officers were called again, finding three young males with stab wounds nearby. Neighbours said they had been woken by fighting.
Police report the three injured men are all from western Sydney.
An 18-year-old, unconscious and bleeding seriously from a wound to his abdomen, was transported to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a critical condition.
A 19-year-old had multiple stab wounds to his chest and was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital, also deemed critical.
A third man, aged 20 years, had a wound on his arm and was also taken to Prince Alfred Hospital, in a stable condition.
Authorities are attempting to put together what happened, and who was involved. A weapon was not found at the scene.
Detectives are reportedly getting no assistance from others present and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
“A number of witnesses have been spoken to at the scene. Unfortunately, they have not been forthcoming with what exactly has occurred,” says NSW Police Superintendent Rod Hart.
The police have said they are confident it was a targeted attack and that those involved “were all known to each other” – in the hope of reassuring the community.
