DETECTIVES have launched a manhunt after a man was reportedly bludgeoned about his head in a suspected gang attack inside a Blacon tower block.
Police say the victim, who disappeared without a trace minutes after the vicious attack, will need serious medical attention and urged him to come forward to help catch his attackers.
The victim is believed to be in his mid thirties, but police could not confirm whether he is local to the area and appeal to anyone with information to come forward.
Police were called to the Plas Dinas flats in Blacon just after 6pm on Monday, where they found a blood-soaked corridor.
Det Insp Gwyn Dodd, who is leading the investigation, said: “It is likely a weapon may have been used as there was a large amount of blood at the scene, but investigations are continuing to establish the exact circumstances of the incident.
“The main focus of the investigation at this point is to try to trace the victim, who to our knowledge has not sought medical treatment.
“It is a very serious and worrying situation and we don't know at this stage the condition of the victim and the main concern is that the victim is safe.”
In a direct appeal to the Blacon community Det Insp Dodd said: “We don’t know who the victim is or whether they are local or whether they have left the area. What we would ask the community is that they seek their consciences and help to identify the victim.”
The incident has rocked the Blacon community, where some residents reported seeing police cars swarming around the flats which remain cordoned off.
One resident, who asked not to be named but whose home backs on to the flats, said: “I heard a lot of commotion and then looked out to see a mass of police cars with sirens blazing, Many of the people were sure a man had been beaten with a hammer to the head. It must have been a serious attack because one resident who lives in the flats told how there was a lot of blood on the landing. It is frightening to think we live so close to such violence.”
Julia Nundy, assistant director of Chester and District Housing Trust (CDTS), said: “We are aware there was an incident at Plas Dinas and had colleagues on site with the police last night, talking to residents. We would like to reassure residents we are working closely with the police and providing them with any assistance we can.”
A spokesman from the North West Ambulance Service said there were no records of a call to Plas Dinas on Monday, January 15.