An appeal for calm was made today on a Bradford estate where a teenager was stabbed and slashed in an attack being treated by police as attempted murder. The 18-year-old victim was in a comfortable condition at Bradford Royal Infirmary last night. He suffered a stab wound to the side and was slashed in the face by his attackers who were armed with knives.

Two other men were treated for cuts and bruises at Bradford Royal Infirmary following the incident in Ringwood Road, Canterbury.

Leading figures in the area have condemned the attack which occurred at about 3pm on Saturday and urged the community to stay calm.

Councillor Ian Greenwood (Lab, Little Horton) said: “I am obviously concerned at a violent incident in the Little Horton ward.

“It is too early yet to know what the reasons for these events were and obviously we will have to await the outcome of the police investigation.

“I would urge everyone to remain quiet and believe all of us should hope to ensure the perpetrators of these actions are brought swiftly and appropriately to court.”

The area was cordoned off by police following the attack.

Councillor Naveeda Ikram (Lab, Little Horton) said she understood that the victim, who has not been named, had been “singled out”.

She said: “From what I understand the person who has been attacked has been singled out and it involves someone from outside the area. It doesn’t seem to be anything which has happened in the community between families as such.

“Everybody should stay calm during this difficult time and hopefully try to maintain the situation until we get some more information from the police as to what is the case.

“If somebody has been a witness to this crime my heart goes out to them, but they should come forward and help the police.

“We are working with the police and I would like everybody to remain calm.”

A man who was visiting his girlfriend in Ringwood Road when police arrived at the scene, said: “Everyone is saying an Asian lad and an Afro-Caribbean lad had a fight on Friday night.

“The next day three cars full of young guys pulled up outside his house carrying hammers and machetes.

“The Afro-Caribbean guy had his face slashed with a knife and he was stabbed in the side. There was an untold number of police there.”

Witnesses to the attack should contact Detective Constable 1064 Collins at Bradford South CID on 0845 60 60 606.

l Two 21-year-old men have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. They have been bailed pending further inquiries.

e-mail: james.rush @telegraphandargus.co.uk