Men arrested over second Smethwick machete attack released on bail

A 22-year-old man was attacked on the forecourt of the Texaco petrol station on Oldbury Road on Monday evening, around 100 yards away from where Karl Gallagher was stabbed to death on Sunday.

Officers believe the victim was attacked after an argument. He was taken to hospital with serious slash wounds but his injuries were said not to be life-threatening.

A BMW fled the scene of the petrol station stabbing and was tracked to St Paul's Road around 700 yards away.

Armed police were sent to St Paul's Road where they surrounded and then raided a house near Holly Lane. The road was closed and police vans remained at the scene on Tuesday morning. A BMW has been recovered as evidence.

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Four men were arrested on suspicion of wounding and firearms offences and a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal damage - and have all since been released on police bail, a spokesman said this morning.

The incident is not thought to be related to Mr Gallagher's murder which happened on the car park of West Cross Shopping Centre just off Oldbury Road.

The machete attack victim was one of four people stabbed in the West Midlands in the space of 30 hours.

Timeline of knife attacks

• Sunday, 2.40pm: Two teenagers injured in Solihull stabbing. One, a 16-year-old boy, is left critical after being knifed in the back. A 19-year-old man is also taken to hospital.

• Sunday, 4.40pm: Karl Gallagher murdered in Smethwick. Mr Gallagher, 31, is pronounced dead at West Cross Shopping Centre after being knifed in front of shoppers. Police and family members urge the public not to share shocking video footage of the attack which is posted online.

• Monday, 6pm: Man knifed at Smethwick petrol station. A man is slashed in the arm on a petrol station forecourt 100 yards away from where Mr Gallagher was killed. Armed police surround and raid a house on nearby St Paul's Road.