A MAN is fighting for his life in hospital after being attacked in street.
Police are treating Thursday night's assault on the 25-year-old in Wishaw as attempted murder.
They were unable to confirm reports that the victim had been hit with a machete.
It is thought the man had been involved in a dispute with a group of people near an unofficial bonfire display a few hours before he was attacked in a disturbance which broke out in Lomond Drive in the North Lanarkshire town at around 11.20pm.
Detective Inspector John Lamb, of Wishaw CID, said: “The man was stabbed and beaten in what I would say was an extremely brutal attack.
“From our enquiries, we believe that around 8pm, earlier on Thursday evening, the injured man had been involved in a dispute with a number of other people near to an unofficial bonfire display in Pather.
"He left shortly after but returned to the area around 10.30pm when a large scale disturbance happened near to Thornlie Primary School in Lomond Drive, Pather. He was then set upon by a small number of people in the same street.
“I believe the disturbance and subsequent attack was between two factions in the area who may or may not have known each other.
"There is no excuse for such behaviour and the level of violence used which was undoubtedly witnesses by decent members of the community returning from bonfire night celebrations."
Detectives have launched an attempted murder investigation and are thought to be following a number of lines of inquiry.
Mr Lamb said: “Officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries and checking CCTV in the area. So far the response form the local community has been encouraging, however, we still need people to come forward.
“After the attack the man was taken by a passing member of the public to Wishaw General. A number of other people had also tried to help him and break up the attack."
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