Murder inquiry launched after 'frenzied' knife attack

POLICE have launched a murder inquiry after a man was stabbed to death in what has been described as a "frenzied attack".

William Downie, 28, died after being knifed by two men who chased him from a wasteland area of Hamilton to a residential road.

Strathclyde Police believe the two men may have been driving around the area searching for the victim.

Police were called to the Russell Street area of Hamilton at about 8pm on Saturday and discovered the body of Mr Downie, who was from the Hamilton area.

Detective Inspector Paul Swinburne said: "Mr Downie was in the company of a number of teenagers when he was approached by two men, both armed with knives.

"Mr Downie ran off and was chased into rear gardens in Russell Street where he was viciously and brutally assaulted in a frenzied attack.

"Enquiries have established that the attackers got out of two vehicles a short distance away – a blue van, which has since been recovered, and a small black car in which there were both men and women.

"These two cars may have been touring the area looking for him prior to the attack."