Householders have spoken of their shock and disbelief after two men were stabbed just metres from their doorsteps.
The victims were at a party in Lewis Road, Chichester, when they were injured early on Sunday, May 11.
They were taken to St Richard's Hospital for treatment but later discharged.
The drama unfolded in the street – which has a mixture of semi-d
etached and terraced properties – around 1am.
Worried residents called police to report a 'disturbance' at a party in the 'usually quiet' road not far from the city centre.
Officers arrived to find two men with stab wounds.
A married woman, who did not want to be named, said she heard a commotion that morning.
"I heard raised voices down there but what it was I don't know – I didn't actually see anything," she said.
"I'm quite shocked a couple of people were stabbed – I didn't know that at all.
"It is not a noisy area. We get the odd few teenagers hanging about but apart from that we don't seem to get any trouble around here."
Student Ruth Butterfield (21) expressed disbelief when she learned of the incident.
"I'm quite shocked this has happened down here. I didn't hear anything at all on Sunday morning," she said.
"There was some commotion on Friday night. I don't know what that was, but on Sunday morning, no.
"We have been here only a year but we haven't had any problems. It is usually quite quiet.
"There are always a few kids hanging about down the road but they don't cause any trouble."
Chichester District Performance Sergeant Anna Gent said incidents of this nature at private parties in the area were rare.
"It certainly is not a common occurrence. The majority of parties at private addresses pass off without incident," she said.
"The most common calls we get as a result of house parties are about noise and we pass those on to the environmental health department at the council."
Officers are investigating the incident and appealing for witnesses or anyone who has any information to come forward.
Sgt Gent said: "Were you there at the party or do you have any information?"
A man from Chichester was arrested and bailed in connection with the incident.
Anyone with any information is asked to call DC Jim Nicholl at Chichester CID on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
The full article contains 404 words and appears in OS-Chichester Observer newspaper.
