Police launch homicide investigation after one killed, five injured in Whanganui 'stabbing incident'

January 22, 2019
Five people were were hospitalised following a stabbing in Whanganui today.

One person has died and five others injured in a "stabbing incident" in Whanganui this afternoon.

Authorities have now launched a homicide investigation, police confirmed late this evening. 

"The investigation is in the very early stages," Detective Inspector Paul Baskett said in a statement. "However, we can confirm that one person was taken into custody immediately after the incident."

Police are not looking for anyone else, he said. 

Authorities were called to the scene on Wicksteed Street at around 4.15pm, police said.

A Whanganui Hospital duty nurse manager told 1 NEWS five people were taken to the emergency department, with two in a serious but stable condition. Three others suffered moderate injuries, the manager said. 

Cordons on Wicksteed and Liverpool streets are expected to stay in place overnight as the police investigation continues. 

Authorities have not yet released the name of the person who died.

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