Hospital suspect 'had waited 90 minutes'

MAN, 20, DETAINED UNDER MENTAL HEALTH ACT AFTER ATTACK

- By PATRICK EDRICH

A MAN arrested after six people were injured in a hospital attack spent more than 90 minutes in the waiting area before the incident.

Merseyside Police were called to Newton Community Hospital in Newton-le-Willows at around midday on Tuesday following reports that a man had assaulted a number of people with a weapon.

The ECHO understands the suspect, a 20-year-old man originally from Afghanistan but living a short distance from the hospital in Newton-le-Willows, entered the GP practice on Tuesday morning to ask for an appointment. But the ECHO understands he was not registered with the practice and was told he would not be able to book in for a consultation.

And the ECHO also understands that the suspect arrived at around 10.30am and spent around 90 minutes in the waiting room, becoming "increasingly agitated." It is believed the man did not leave the hospital before the attack began.

A man was said to have smashed a counter with the metal bar before targeting people inside the hospital. The ECHO understands both staff and patients were injured.