Manchester Victoria stabbing: Terror police keeping ‘open mind’ as to station attack suspect’s motive
Video appears to show suspect shouting ‘Allahu akbar’ at scene of knife attack
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Counter terror police are questioning a man following a New Year’s Eve knife attack at a station in Manchester left three people injured.
Police say they are keeping an “open mind” as to the motives behind the incident at Victoria Station in the centre of the city, after video footage appeared to show a suspect shouting “Allahu akbar”, or “god is great” in Arabic, at the scene.
Three people – a police officer in his 30s and a man and a woman in their 50s – were taken to hospital to be treated for stab wounds, none of which were thought to be life-threatening.
British Transport Police (BTP) said on Tuesday the injured officer had been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment to a knife wound to his shoulder.
A BBC producer who was a witness at the station described the attacker as wielding a large kitchen knife and who linked his actions to “bombings in other countries”.
“I heard the man say, 'As long as you keep bombing these countries this is going to keep happening,'” the producer, Sam Clack, told BBC 5 Live radio. “It was very, very scary.”
Mr Clack, on his way to catch a tram home, said police officers used a Taser and pepper spray before, “six or seven” officers jumped on the man.
A joint statement by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the BTP said a suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder on a tram platform at the station “within minutes” of the incident taking place.
The forces said additional police officers would be deployed to the station throughout New Year’s Day, but the move did not mean there was an increased threat to the public.
“Tonight's events will have understandably worried people but I need to stress that the incident is not ongoing, a man is in custody and there is currently no intelligence to suggest there is any wider threat at this time,” assistant chief constable Rob Potts said in a statement released on Monday.
The incident came as emergency services personnel across the country engaged in their busiest night of the year.
In Greater Manchester alone, 16 per cent more 999 calls and 3 per cent more 101 calls are made on New Year's Eve compared with an average Friday night.
“New Year's Eve is always a busy night for us,” said superintendent Mark Kenny, who runs GMP’s call handling teams.
“We tend to see more emergencies including serious incidents being reported, with alcohol-fuelled violence being the largest demand.”
Additional reporting by agencies