More charges following town centre stabbings

2 hours ago

Richard PriceWest Midlands

News image — Officers were called to The Strand in Longton on 6 June

BBC A police officer wearing black with a blue "police" sign on his back. There are other people, who look like forensic officers, in shot and a red and white cordon with cones. — Officers were called to The Strand in Longton on 6 June

More charges have been made by police following a street fight in which two people were stabbed.

Officers were called to The Strand in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, at 11.45 BST on 6 June after a report that a group of people were fighting with weapons.

Afrim Mhillaj, 39, of Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, was charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent as well as violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.

Bresmir Peci, 32, of Hertfordshire, was charged with two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and violent disorder.

Peci was also charged in relation to cannabis production and driving without a licence or insurance.

They both appeared at Hatfield Magistrates' Court on Friday and were remanded in custody ahead of their next appearance at Stafford Crown Court on 27 July.

The two men who were hurt in the stabbing were taken to hospital but have since been discharged.

A blue and white police cordon around an area which has a brick pavement and a sign with some graffiti on it. — Police said there were reports of a group of people fighting in the street with weapons

Three other men previously charged in relation to the incident were: Aldo Hala, 22, from Goldenhill; Kostandin Kola, 28, from Penkhull; and Leo Mhillaj, 40, from Hanley.

Hala was charged with two counts of wounding, one count of violent disorder and one count of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Kola was charged with two counts of wounding with intent, one count of violent disorder, one count of driving a motor vehicle dangerously and one count of using a motor vehicle without insurance.

Leo Mhillaj was charged with two counts of attempted murder as well as one count of violent disorder and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

All three men were remanded into custody and were due to appear at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 6 July.

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