Guilty pleas after two men stabbed in Accrington hours apart

Two men have pleaded guilty to their roles in an incident where a man was stabbed after leaving a Mosque in Accrington shortly after leaving Friday Prayers.

Murtaza Khan (pictured bottom left), 20, of Porter Street, Preston, pleaded guilty to Section 18 Assault when he appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday (20^th January). Ishaq Hussain, 33, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the same charge at an earlier hearing.

It came as a third man admitted to stabbing a man in the neck in a linked incident later the same day.

Aiwaz Hussain (pictured top right), 23, of Monk Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to Section 18 Assault and possession of a bladed article, when he appeared in the dock alongside Khan on Tuesday.

Officers were called to Lower Antley Street at 2.37pm on Friday, 18^th July, following reports of an assault which happened outside Raza Jamia Masjid.

They attended and found a man in his 40s had suffered stab injuries to his buttocks. He was taken to hospital but thankfully his injuries were not life-threatening.

CCTV footage showed Ishaq in possession of a knife, making stabbing motions towards the lower part of the victim’s body. Murtaza assaulted the victim before he was tripped to the floor and was holding him down as he was being stabbed.

At 5.18pm on 18^th July officers were called to Craven Street following reports of a further assault which had happened in Richmond Street in Accrington.

CCTV footage show the victim get out of a Skoda Superb and approach Aiwaz. An altercation took place slightly off camera during which the victim was stabbed in the neck.

An ambulance was initially called, however, the victim was taken up to Royal Blackburn Hospital by his family. It was there that he had life-saving surgery on a 3cm deep puncture wound to the jugular. He has since been discharged from hospital.

A sentencing hearing will take place at Preston Crown Court on 24^th February.

Officers still need to speak to 32-year-old Imtiaz Hussain (pictured right) as part of these incidents, as well as a knife point robbery.

Imtiaz also answers to Imran, Immy, Amtiaz and Haroon, and has links to Accrington, Preston and London.

Imtiaz is 5ft 9, slim, with brown eyes and short black hair. Last time we saw him he had a thin black moustache and black hair on his chin, however he has previously had a full beard.

Don’t approach Imtiaz if you see him, as he can be violent. However, call 999.

For non-immediate sightings email forcecontrolroom@lancashire.police.uk and quote log 0894 of 18th July 2025. Or call 01254 353870.

You can also report information to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.