Two men have been taken into custody after a Premier League
footballer was stabbed in both legs.
A 25-year-old man was arrested in Derby on suspicion of
attempted murder following the attack on West Ham player Calum
Davenport, 26, at his family home in Bedford.
Bedfordshire Police said the man was due to be escorted to
Bedford for questioning.
A spokeswoman for the force said a 19-year-old man arrested
earlier remains in custody in the town's Greyfriars police
station.
Davenport was taken to Bedford Hospital by ambulance with his
mother, 49, who was also injured in the attack in the early hours
of this morning.
Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, according
to police.
Davenport, who was a multi-million pound signing and an England
Under-21 international, underwent emergency surgery on Saturday
morning.
A spokesman for the hospital said: "His condition is serious but
stable and his mother is in a stable condition."
Neighbours on leafy Springfield Avenue described "noisy" scenes
before emergency services arrived.
Ann Desics, who lives in Springfield Avenue, said she was woken
up by people arguing in the road outside the footballer's mother's
house shortly before 5am.
"I just thought it was people passing by but then the ambulances
came," she said. "I didn't see the incident, I just heard all this
shouting.
"The main person shouting had a very strong Caribbean
accent.
"It's an awful thing to happen - I hope he's okay."
Mrs Desics, 61, said the road was cordoned off for some time
after Davenport was taken to hospital while the scene was
examined.
There was "quite a lot" of blood on the road, she added.
Davenport cost the East London club £3 million when he joined
them from Tottenham during the summer of 2007.
He did not figure in West Ham's first game of the season, at
Wolves last week and, after struggling to hold down a first-team
place, has been linked with a move away from the club.
The Hammers said the club's thoughts were with the family.
A statement added: "His mum is recovering while Calum underwent
surgery this morning and his injuries were described as serious by
doctors.
"The club's medical team are in contact with hospital staff.
"The thoughts of everyone at West Ham are with Calum and his
family."
A spokeswoman for Bedfordshire Police said: "Police were called
to Springfield Avenue in Kempston at 5am after a report of a person
being stabbed.
"A 26-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment for
serious injury which is not thought to be life-threatening at this
time.
"A 19-year-old man was arrested shortly after the incident in
connection with the assault.
"But the investigation is still ongoing and house-to-house
inquiries, scenes of crime officers and a cordon are at the scene
at this moment in time."
The spokeswoman later confirmed a 49-year-old woman was also
injured and taken to hospital, with officers planning to speak to
her tonight.
She added: "A further man, a 25-year-old man, has also been
arrested.
"He has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
"He was arrested in Derby and he is due to be escorted back to
Bedfordshire for questioning this evening."
Bedford-born Davenport spent a spell on loan at Premier League
rivals Sunderland last season and has also been loaned out to
Watford.
The centre-back started his career at Coventry and has also
played on loan at Southampton and Norwich.
A resident of the quiet suburban street where the stabbing took
place said: "We are all a bit shocked to tell the truth.
"You just don't expect something like this to happen here, it's
a peaceful, quiet spot normally."
Davenport was a "mad keen" footballer from a young age,
according to Mrs Desics, who had known him when she worked as a
dinner lady at his primary school, Camestone.
Mrs Desics said she had not seen him "for years" until his
mother moved into the street around a year ago and Davenport became
a regular visitor.
Gary Sanderson, spokesman for the East of England Ambulance
Service, said two ambulances and a fast response car were sent to
the scene.
He said: "We were alerted to Springfield Avenue in Kempston
shortly after 5am this morning to a report of an assault.
"Two patients, a man and a woman, were treated and stabilised by
paramedics before being taken to Bedford Hospital (South Wing) with
non life threatening injuries."
Source from:www.soccernet.com