Wiltshire Police are searching for a man who attacked 16-year-old twin brothers with a knife, leaving one of them “just a couple of millimetres from death.”
The brothers had been among a group of young people who had been at a party in Dilton Marsh, near Westbury, on Saturday evening 21st March.
At about 11.00pm they left and gathered at what is known locally as the Dilton Marsh roundabout in Tanyard Way.
Detective inspector Paul Franklin, who is leading the investigation said, “We’ve been told that an unknown man approached the group on the roundabout and threatened them. He was chased by several of the teenagers but produced a knife.
“One of the brothers was slashed across the chest and is lucky to be alive because the knife wound was so deep it was close to his heart. He was just a couple of millimetres from death. He was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol where he is in a serious but stable condition.
“The other brother received cuts to his hands and was treated in hospital in Trowbridge and discharged.
“This was an extremely serious assault with a very sharp blade.
“I urgently need to hear from anyone who was at the party or who witnessed what happened around Tanyard Way between 11.00pm and midnight on Saturday.”
The attacker was described as being aged between 20 and 30, with shortish black hair. He was wearing a blue jacket and either blue jeans or grey jogging bottoms. He is thought to be about 5ft 8in to 5ft 9 in tall.
DI Franklin said the suspect was likely to have been bleeding from a facial injury which he received during the confrontation.
A footpath along the main road near the roundabout has been sealed off as the search for the knife continues.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and ask for DI Franklin.
