A plainclothes policeman of the police anti-drug unit was stabbed about 18 times in various parts of his body by four men who attacked him while he was walking on Ascension Street in Orange Walk Town at about 1:30 yesterday morning.

Constable Abimael Perez was stabbed in his chest, back, head, arms and hands.

The vicious attackers then ran away, leaving him bleeding on the ground.

Police who were alerted about the attack on their fellow officer rushed to Ascension Street. Perez was rushed to the Orange Walk Town Northern Regional Hospital, where he was admitted in a critical but stable condition.

Police said that robbery was the motive for the attack on Constable Perez. The thieves stole a blue-and-grey knapsack which contained his Belizean passport, clothing, and an HTC cellphone.

Police have since begun an intense investigation into the stabbing.