A statement released by Staffordshire Police on 30th July 2008:

A 42-year-old man from the Erdington area of Birmingham has been arrested and sectioned under the Mental Health Act after two women suffered knife injuries in Lichfield yesterday evening.

Officers were called to Lichfield Cathedral shortly before 5pm yesterday evening (Tuesday 29 July) following reports that a 34-year-old woman from Burntwood had been stabbed in the buttock within the Cathedral building itself. A 63-year-old Lichfield woman also received a slight knife injury to her left arm in a nearby footpath known locally as The Windings.
 
The women were taken by ambulance to the Minor Injuries Unit at Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, where they received treatment and were later discharged.
 
The man was arrested in nearby Bulldog Lane within six minutes of the incident being reported. He was taken into custody at Burton police station and later sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Lichfield neighbourhood policing unit commander Inspector Jon Staite said: “Although at an early stage in our investigation, this is an isolated incident.

“I’d like to thank staff at the Cathedral and members of the public who swiftly called us, and also those who came forward as witnesses for their support. I’d like to reassure local residents that we are investigating this crime thoroughly.

“This type of incident is extremely rare in Lichfield and knife offences make up a tiny fraction of all crime in Staffordshire.”

The Very Reverend Adrian Dorber, Dean of Lichfield Cathedral said: “This was a very distressing incident and we are only too grateful that prompt action by our Verging staff and Staffordshire Police, prevented it from becoming any worse. We extend our best wishes to the two ladies who were injured.

“We understand that this is a very rare and out of the ordinary incident. Lichfield is generally a safe and secure place to live and the Cathedral will do its best to make sure that tradition is upheld”.