23 Jan 2019

Homicide investigation after person dies in Whanganui stabbing

5:44 am on 23 January 2019

A person has died and five people are in hospital after a stabbing incident in Whanganui on Tuesday.

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Police at the scene of the stabbing in Whanganui. Photo: RNZ / Leigh-Marama McLachlan

Police have launched an homicide investigation following the incident.

All five injured have been taken to Whanganui Hospital. A St John spokesperson said two were in a critical condition and three were serious.

Detective inspector Paul Baskett said one person had been taken into custody immediately after the incident and police were not looking for anyone else.

Police were not yet in a position to release the name of the deceased, he said.

Multiple police cars arrived at Wicksteed Street at about 4.15pm after reports of the stabbings.

Blood splatters were also seen in the carpark of a New World supermarket, about a block away in Victoria St.

Horrified shoppers saw a woman with several stab wounds collapse on the ground.

Cordons on Wicksteed and Liverpool Streets will remain in place overnight.