A 17-year-old girl is in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed in the neck and stomach in a park during an apparent robbery.
Police said it appeared to be a robbery that had gone "horrifically wrong". The teenager is believed to have been taking a short cut when she was attacked in Priory Gardens, in Orpington, south east London.
She underwent emergency surgery and her parents were keeping vigil at her bedside.The girl was attacked by a man after she got off a bus in Court Road and had just entered the park on her way to Orpington High Street, where she is understood to work in a shop, Scotland Yard said.
He stabbed her in the neck and stomach with what police describe as a "sharp instrument" before being challenged by a female member of the public. He stole the teenager's handbag and made off down Court Road, the Orpington bypass, with the woman giving chase.
The girl, whose clothing was dishevelled, left the park and collapsed. Passengers on a passing bus got off to help her.
Speaking at the scene, Detective Inspector Bryan Davidson of Bromley CID said: "It's an horrific attack with an extreme level of unnecessary violence. We believe the motive was robbery in that her handbag was stolen. However, we won't rule out any other motive at the moment."
He praised the actions of the "courageous" woman who intervened on her way to work.
A force spokeswoman said of the attacker: "He's going to be in a state, there's no doubt about it. He could even be bloodstained."
:: The suspect was white, about 30, stocky and about 5ft 6in tall. He had dark brown hair and was wearing a white jacket and blue jeans. The witness appeal line is 020 82848760 or to remain anonymous, call CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.
