Manchester stabbing: Teenage girl fighting for life after she was stabbed 'protecting her father'

The badly injured girl, along with the dead body of a 41-year-old man, was found at an address in Moston

A 13-year-old-girl fighting for her life in hospital may have been stabbed trying to protect her father from a fatal knife attack.

The girl, named locally as Ayesha Jackson, is in a critical condition following the incident in which her father Robert Jackson and another man, named locally as Darren Gasper, were fatally injured.

The 34-year-old man who is understood to have launched the knife attack, named locally as Darren Gasper, also died of stab injuries after hijacking a car and driving it into the side of a pub at about 1am today in nearby Harpurhey.

The badly injured girl, along with the dead body of her 41-year-old father, was found at an address in Moston after police were called to Delta Walk at 10.20pm last night following concerns for the occupants' welfare.

Darren Gasper, who is believed to have launched the knife attack in northeast Manchester, was found dead from stab wounds after driving a car into the side of a nearby pub.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are not understood to be looking for anybody else in connection with the attacks.

Police were called to Watfield Walk in Harpurhey just after 1am this morning after a man threatened a car owner with a knife and stole a vehicle.

Less than three hours later, the vehicle was seen by police near Rochdale Road. When approached by police officers, a 34-year-old man drove the car into the side of the Alliance pub.

He was taken to hospital suffering from a stab wound and injuries consistent with a collision but died a short time later. No one else was injured in the crash.

Detective Superintendent Simon Barraclough, from the GMP major incident team, said: "We are in the very early stages of our inquiries and are piecing together the circumstances that led to two men losing their lives and a 13-year-old girl fighting for her life in hospital.

"Obviously the community will be shocked as to what has happened but we can say we do not believe anyone else was involved and are not looking for anyone else in relation to this incident. However, a police presence will remain in the area to offer reassurance and answer any concerns residents may have."

Anyone with information should phone police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.