A man was taken to hospital with injuries to his eyes believed to be from an unknown substance, while another suffered lacerations to his arms in an attack at a Darlington property.
Three people, a man in his 20s, a man in his 30s, and a teenage girl, were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, wounding with intent and assisting an offence in what police believed was a targeted attack.
Emergency services were called to Langdale Road, Darlington, at around 5.15pm to reports of an injured person and a burglary at a property.
Langdale Road, near Neasham Road, was cordoned off by police with several vehicles also in attendance.
Read more: Neasham Road residents describe 'scary' scenes
An eyewitness reported hearing the helicopter overhead as police officers locked off Langdale Road by erecting a police cordon between the Darlington Kar Parts and Beauty Bar businesses on Neasham Road.
They said they were unaware of what had happened, but had just moved to the area and described the scenes on their doorstep as “scary”.
A spokeswoman for Durham police said: "Two men were taken to hospital, one with lacerations to his arms and one with injuries to his eyes believed to be from an unknown substance."
Police continue to investigate the incident.
A helicopter from the Great North Air Ambulance landed on the green near Windermere Court in response to the incident. The North East Ambulance Service confirmed a man was transported to Darlington Memorial Hospital for treatment.
A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service: "We were called at 5.11 to an injured person on Langdale Road, Darlington.
"We dispatched a double crewed ambulance and transported one patient to Darlington Memorial Hospital."
A spokeswoman for the air ambulance added: "Our team were activated at 5.25pm to reports of an assault in Darlington.
"They arrived on scene at 5.44pm but were stood down. The patient was taken to hospital by the North East Ambulance Service."
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