Hong Kong police are searching for a 17-year-old girl who allegedly threw knives at her 18-year-old ex-girlfriend during a fight, injuring her head, neck, waist and legs.

A source said on Wednesday that the dispute stemmed from relationship issues between the victim and suspect, who later fled the scene.

“The victim and suspect were ex-girlfriends and the dispute arose from relationship issues,” the insider said.

A police spokesman said they received a report from a neighbouring resident at 10 Cornwall Street in Kowloon Tong shortly after 10pm on Tuesday, saying that the pair were suspected of being in a dispute.

Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered five knives ranging from 19cm to 34cm (7.7 to 13.4 inches) long, as well as a broom measuring 1.7 metres (5.6 feet) in length.

“Under preliminary investigations, we believe the victim and suspect were involved in an altercation, in which the suspect attacked the victim with her hands and threw knives at her,” the spokesman said.