Key Points
- A fight that broke out in Katma Barber located on Berkley Street, Toxteth, soon moved outside just before 7pm on Thursday 29th October 2026.
- During the scuffle, a punching bag machine fell over and crashed on a 50 year old bystander.
- The victim received severe head injuries and currently his health status is still very serious in hospital.
- Merseyside Police sealed off several premises including Bon Cafe and Katma Barber as forensics investigators inspected the crime scene.
- A witness reported that there were three men involved in the fight but the injured man was not one of them.
- The police have identified the injured man as a bystander and are requesting witnesses and CCTV evidence.
- Det. Insp. Lee Egerton is asking all those who witnessed something around that time to inform the police.
- The police reference number is 26000888085; alternatively the information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously.
Toxteth (Liverpool standard) October 30, 2026 – A man in his 50s is fighting for his life after a fight in a Toxteth barber shop spilled onto the street and a punch bag machine was pushed onto him, according to Merseyside Police and the Liverpool Echo.
Officers were called to a row of shops on Berkley Street, near the junction of Upper Parliament Street and Princes Road, shortly before 7pm on Thursday, 29 October. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, police said a punch bag machine had been pushed over during an altercation and landed on a male bystander, who suffered a serious head injury. He was taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.
What happened in Toxteth?
The incident began inside Katma Barber, according to an eyewitness account published by the Liverpool Echo. The witness said the fight involved three men and continued after they moved outside onto the pedestrianised square.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the eyewitness said:
“I saw the fighting. They were fighting in the barber shop. I separated them twice.” He added that the fighting later resumed in the street, during which the punch bag machine fell onto the victim.
The machine is often placed outside the shops and was not tied down, the Liverpool Echo reported. The area is a pedestrianised square and a popular meeting place for local people, close to the busy junction of Upper Parliament Street and Princes Road.
Who was injured?
The injured man has not been named. Merseyside Police described him as a bystander, while the eyewitness told the Liverpool Echo that he knew the victim and believed he had no involvement in the fight.
The man suffered a serious head injury after the machine landed on him. He was taken to hospital and remains in a serious condition, according to Merseyside Police information reported by the Liverpool Echo.
The eyewitness said he called an ambulance and police, and that the ambulance arrived within 10 minutes. He also said he contacted the injured man’s family and went to the hospital. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, he said: “I called the ambulance, I called the police. There was blood everywhere. The ambulance came within 10 minutes.”
What did police find at the scene?
Merseyside Police cordoned off part of Berkley Street following the incident. When the Liverpool Echo visited on Friday morning, most of the shops were cordoned off, including Bon Cafe and Katma Barber, although the cordon had been reduced and people were able to walk through part of the square.
Forensic officers focused their examination on the barber shop and were seen taking photographs inside, the Liverpool Echo reported. A white forensic tent remained within the cordon, while tarpaulin sheets were visible on the ground near the tent, according to the newspaper’s later report.
The Liverpool Echo initially reported the incident as a possible stabbing after police and emergency vehicles attended the scene on Thursday evening. However, Merseyside Police later confirmed that the serious injury followed the punch bag machine being pushed onto the man.
What have police said?
Detective Inspector Lee Egerton said enquiries were ongoing and appealed for help from anyone who was in the area at the relevant time. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, he said: “Enquiries into this incident are ongoing and we are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Berkley Street at around 7pm last night who saw anything or can assist our enquiries in any way to get in touch as a matter of urgency.”
Police are carrying out witness and CCTV enquiries in the area, according to the Liverpool Echo. No arrests or charges have been reported in the available coverage.
How can witnesses help?
Merseyside Police has asked anyone with information to contact its social media desk through X or Facebook at @MerPolCC, quoting reference 26000888085.
Information can also be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through its website. Alternatively, information can be submitted directly to the investigation team through Merseyside Police’s online appeal portal.
Background of the development
Berkley Street is a pedestrianised area on the edge of Liverpool city centre, overlooking the junction of Upper Parliament Street and Princes Road. The Liverpool Echo reported that the square is a popular meeting place and that the punch bag machine involved is often positioned outside the shops without being secured.
The police response began on Thursday evening, when officers cordoned off shops including Bon Cafe and Farm Fresh Halal Store. The Liverpool Echo reported that a white tent was erected, forensic officers examined the ground, and two scientific support vans, two paramedic cars and several police vehicles were present.
The following morning, the police presence remained focused around Bon Cafe and Katma Barber. The Liverpool Echo reported that forensic activity appeared concentrated on the barber shop, while the cordon was later scaled back to allow pedestrians through part of the square.
Prediction: How this may affect Toxteth residents and businesses
For local residents, the incident is likely to increase concern about safety in a busy public square, particularly during evening hours. The police appeal for witnesses and CCTV suggests that investigators will seek to establish precisely how the altercation developed and who was responsible for pushing the machine.
For nearby businesses, including Katma Barber and Bon Cafe, the continuing police cordon and forensic examination may disrupt normal trading. The Liverpool Echo reported that shutters were partly closed and that the area remained cordoned off on Friday morning, which could affect customer access while the investigation continues.
If further witnesses come forward, police may be able to clarify whether any individual will face criminal proceedings. Until then, the confirmed facts remain that a bystander in his 50s suffered a serious head injury, remains in a serious condition, and that Merseyside Police are actively appealing for information.
