Man, 21, arrested over three incidents in Greater Manchester, one of which saw victim stabbed several times

A man is under arrest in connection with attacks on three men who had arranged meetings through the online gay dating app Grindr. The 21-year-old suspect was held on suspicion of robbery and two assaults and remains in custody for questioning, Greater Manchester police (GMP) said.

The incidents became “progressively more violent”, with the most recent victim being stabbed several times. On each occasion the encounters were initiated via contact on Grindr.

The first victim, a man in his 50s, was threatened in his own home in Irlams o’ th’ Height in Salford shortly before 7pm on Monday by a man with a knife who demanded that he hand over his car keys. The offender failed to start the car and fled the scene, said police.

An hour later in Prestwich, a man in his 40s had a knife held to his throat by a male in Bury Old Road who demanded his car keys. The victim received small cuts to his throat, back and forearm and was taken to hospital for treatment, where he remains in a stable condition.

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The third man, aged in his 20s, was attacked at about 5.45pm on Tuesday. He was threatened by a man who was a passenger in his car on Bolton Road, Pendlebury, as they were parked on the roadside. He demanded he hand over his car keys before stabbing him several times.

The attacker fled the scene on foot in the direction of Birch Drive towards High Bank Road. The victim remains in hospital with serious but apparently not life-threatening injuries.

Ch Insp Amanda Delamore, of GMP’s Salford district, said: “We now have a man in custody who will be questioned by my team in the coming hours as our inquiries continue. Our thoughts remain with the three victims, who have all been left incredibly shaken by their ordeals, and officers will continue to provide them with support at this distressing time.

“Our investigation does not stop here and I would continue to urge anyone with any information that could assist us to please get in touch with police.”

• Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 5194, or 101, quoting reference number 1764 of 26/03/2019. Reports can also be made anonymously, via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.