A MAN was left fighting for his life in hospital after being stabbed 13 times in an attack branded “shocking” by police.

The victim, who is 40 and English, was found bleeding on the stairwell outside his flat in Gibbs Crescent, West Oxford, at about 1.30am yesterday.

He had knife wounds to his legs, back and abdomen.

Police said they were treating the attack as an attempted murder and appealed for witnesses.

Three men, aged 27, 35, and 36, have been arrested in connection with the incident, and a 38-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. All four were still in custody last night.

The victim was last night in a serious but stable condition at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Det Insp Simon Morton, leading the investigation, said he had more than 20 officers working on the case.

He said: “The man was found in the communal area of the flats.

“We know the attack involved a group of people, but it is too early to say if they knew the victim.

“I urge people not to panic or worry.

“This is still a safe area and we will be operating reassurance patrols in the coming days.”

Det Insp Morton called on anyone with information about the stabbing to come forward.

He said: “We are doing everything we can in this investigation. I appeal to anyone who was in this area of the city late on Wednesday night, or in the early hours of yesterday morning, and saw something suspicious to contact police immediately.”

Neighbours spoke of their shock at the attacks and said the area, off Mill Street, was normally quiet and friendly.

Francis Delaney, 28, said: “Nobody wants to hear about stabbings and attempted murders happening on their doorsteps.

“I came home from a night out a couple of hours before the attack and I noticed nothing unusual. It’s a nice place to live and everyone gets on with each other, which is why attacks like this are so shocking.”

One neighbour said she was woken up by police.

She said: “I can’t believe it has happened. We know most people around here and it is appalling that something like this could happen so close to your house.”

A friend added: “Gibbs Crescent used to have a reputation as a bit of a problem area and was full of drugs for a while.

“But it has cleaned up its act in recent years and you would never expect something like this to happen.”

Anyone with information about the attack should call police on 08458 505505, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.