Three people were stabbed during a Boxing Day skirmish in Liverpool city centre.
Police encountered a man in his 20s at the junction of Church Street and Whitechapel with stab wounds at 5.30am on Wednesday (December 27).
Officers gave medical assistance before the North West Ambulance Service was contacted and he was taken to hospital, where his condition is described as critical.
Another two men also in their 20s have also self-presented at hospital with stab injuries to their back and a laceration to the head respectively.
It is believed the incident is linked to an earlier disturbance involving a large group of males on Victoria Street.
A large cordon is in place in Liverpool city centre and a number of roads cordoned off as CCTV and witness enquiries are currently being carried out.
Superintendent Helen Bennett said: “Urgent CCTV, witness and forensic enquiries are being carried out in the city centre and as such a large area has been cordoned off.
“It appears that a large disturbance took place on Victoria Street in which three people have been injured.
“We know that there were people in the city centre who may have witnessed the disturbance or possibly come to the assistance of the injured males and we would ask those people to come forward and speak to officers as soon as possible.
“Incidents such as are unacceptable and we will do everything within our powers to find the people responsible and bring them to justice.”
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact Crimestoppers UK anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting log 156 of 27th December.