Brierfield Girl, 17, Leaves Hospital After Neck Stabbing as Police Arrest 30-Year-Old Man

Q: Police say the Brierfield stabbing wasn't a hate crime. What, then, was the motive behind this daylight attack on a teen?

There is no confirmed motive yet. Police have said only that, at this stage, they have found no evidence the stabbing was a hate crime or racially motivated, and they have urged people not to speculate while the investigation continues. What is publicly known is limited. A 30-year-old man, Junaid Nawaz of Brierfield, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder and possession of a knife in a public place after the 17-year-old girl was stabbed in the neck on Wood Street in broad daylight. He has been remanded in custody and is due before Blackburn Magistrates’ Court. The fact that both the suspect and the victim are understood to be of Pakistani heritage appears to be one reason police have moved quickly to rule out any current evidence of racial motivation. But ruling out a hate crime does not establish an alternative motive. Investigators are still reviewing CCTV, gathering forensic evidence and speaking to witnesses. The only additional public clue has come from Burnley MP Oliver Ryan, who described the suspect as “a very unwell, dangerous individual,” while stressing he could not say more because of the live investigation. That comment may point to concerns about the suspect’s mental state, but it is not an official explanation of motive and should be treated cautiously. So, for now, the honest answer is that the motive has not been disclosed and may not yet be established. Police are asking anyone with information, CCTV or doorbell footage to come forward.

Q: As a local man faces court for attempted murder, what will be revealed about his connection to the 17-year-old victim?

At this stage, nothing public has established any specific relationship between the defendant and the 17-year-old victim. What is known is that the man due in court is Junaid Nawaz, 30, of Livingstone Walk, Brierfield. He has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a knife in a public place after the girl was stabbed in the neck on Wood Street at about 3pm on Friday. He has been remanded in custody and is due before Blackburn Magistrates’ Court on 15 June. The victim is a 17-year-old girl understood to be of Pakistani heritage. Her injuries were not life-threatening, and police say she has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home with her family. As for any connection between them, the available reporting does not say whether they knew each other, were related, or whether the attack was random. The only shared details publicly reported are that both are local to Brierfield and both are described as being of Pakistani heritage. Police have also said there is currently no evidence to suggest the attack was racially motivated. If there is a personal link, prior contact, or any motive, that is likely to emerge only through the court process or further police updates. For now, investigators say there are no outstanding suspects and the inquiry remains active.

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jun 13

A 17-year-old girl stabbed in the neck on Wood Street in Brierfield at about 15:00 BST Friday has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.
Lancashire Police said her injuries were serious but not life-threatening, and a 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
Police described the suspect as a British man of Pakistani heritage and said detectives are leading the investigation with no further outstanding suspects.
Officers are still appealing for information from anyone who witnessed the attack or has relevant details about the incident in Lancashire.