The video will start in 8 Cancel

Want the top news headlines sent to your inbox daily? Sign up to our FREE newsletter below Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A boy has been arrested after a teenager was stabbed in front of Newcastle city centre shoppers.

The 17-year-old has been detained on suspicion of wounding with intent and on Saturday night was in police custody.

A 19-year-old man, who left a trail of blood as he staggered through the streets of Newcastle following an attack at Old Eldon Square, is in a stable condition in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, with police saying his injuries “are not thought to be life threatening.”

The unidentified victim was attacked at around 6pm on Saturday night.

Bleeding, he ran through the Eldon Square shopping centre, down Nelson Street and Market Street, before collapsing on a bench outside Carluccio’s restaurant on Grey Street.

Shocked eyewitnesses reported seeing another teen running past shops carrying a knife.

Police deployed extra officers to the streets of Newcastle in the wake of the violence.

Eyewitness Jazmin Milly Gravell wrote on the Chronicle’s Facebook page: “I seen it I was walking past with my dad and my six-year-old niece. I seen loads of people run over and I heard people shouting. Never been so scared.”

Paramedics were on the scene within three minutes of being called and a spokesman for the North East Ambulance Service said the victim - who is believed to be in his late teens - had been taken to the trauma unit at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.

“We received a call at 6.03pm with a report of a male having suffered stab wounds to his face and waist area.

“Our trauma paramedic arrived three minutes later and our main crew and police arrived at 6.10pm.

“A man was taken to the trauma unit at the RVI with stab wounds.”

A doorman at a nearby bar, who did not want to be named, said he believed the lad had suffered multiple injuries.

“Apparently he’s been stabbed four times, to the thigh, the side, and with slashes on his hand and the back of his head,” said the doorman, who went to offer assistance. “He lost a lot of blood.”

Shoppers and the boys friends could be seen crying and shaking as paramedics worked on his injuries.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “At 6pm this evening police were called to Old Eldon Square in Newcastle City Centre after reports of a disturbance.

“A 19-year-old man suffered stab wounds, he was taken to hospital for treatment. His condition is stable and his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

“A 17-year-old male has been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent.

“Extra officers are in the area to both deal with the incident and offer reassurance to the local community.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 ext 69191 quoting reference 1057 060615 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”