KEY POINTS:
Police say a double stabbing and an arson at nearby houses in Tokoroa early this morning may be connected.
Two 38-year-old men suffered serious stab wounds at a party in Richmond Avenue about 2am, and as police were attending this a fire was discovered at another Richmond Ave address.
"Tokoroa CIB ... at this stage cannot confirm if both incidents are linked, but have concerns they may be due to the location and timing of them," police inquiry head Detective Sergeant Kevan Verry said.
Mr Verry said the offender in the stabbing was believed to have left the scene on foot, and a police dog sent to locate him.
" Whilst doing this, the dog handler discovered a fire in a garage at another address in Richmond Ave," he said.
"This house had numerous persons staying in the house and garage and the police officer immediately entered the property and alerted the occupants."
The Fire Service found two fires lit under the property and was able to extinguish both.
Mr Verry said police believed they knew who committed the stabbing.
He said police had yet to find the knife used and were asking Richmond Ave residents to look in their properties to find one.
Police units were also called from the fire scene to help a fellow officer trying to deal with a fight in another part of town involving 40 people. Several arrests were made.
- NZPA
