Police seek witnesses after machete fight in Southend

A man was arrested after a group was injured in a fight involving knives and a machete.

Essex Police said they were investigating an attack on Southchurch Road in Southend-on-Sea which occurred shortly after 00:15 BST, where a group of men, some with their faces covered, were observed engaging in an armed struggle.

Police said officers arrived within 10 minutes of being contacted and found a man with non-life-threatening injuries. He was treated at the hospital.

A 32-year-old man from Coventry has since been arrested on suspicion of affray and remains in custody for questioning.

In Southend, investigations continued with a visible police presence on site.

Ch Insp Paul Hogben said: “I would ask anyone with any information or concerns about this incident to contact us as soon as possible.

“We take incidents of this nature very seriously and the people of Southend can expect a vigorous response and investigation.

“We have a dedicated team investigating this incident and we will provide updates as we make progress.”

There were several incidents of violent attacks in recent years.

Bayo Alaba, MP for Southend East and Rochford, said on Social Media the incident was very worrying.

“This is deeply concerning and I have asked the police for an update and to see what action has been taken. I will report as soon as I know more,” he said.