Police say a boy was stabbed in the back at Herford Christmas Market in Germany before dragging himself a few metres and collapsing

A boy has been seriously injured after being knifed at a Christmas market as police hunt the attacker.

The 16-year-old was at Herford Christmas Market, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, when the attack happened. Police say he was found staggering in a side street near to a church and rushed to hospital.

Detectives have started an investigation into the incident and believe that the knifeman and his victim knew each other. The police have not yet released any information about the attacker's identity but he remains at large.

As reported by the "Neue Westfälische," the 16-year-old managed to drag himself a few more metres after the attack. And according to witnesses, he asked passers-by for help near the church before collapsing.

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