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| Altrincham mosque stabbing: Surgeon attacked in 'hate crime' | Altrincham mosque stabbing: Surgeon attacked in 'hate crime' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A doctor has been stabbed in the back of the neck on his way to a mosque in Greater Manchester. | A doctor has been stabbed in the back of the neck on his way to a mosque in Greater Manchester. |
| Consultant surgeon Dr Nasser Kurdy was attacked outside the Altrincham and Hale Muslim Association at about 17:50 BST and was taken to hospital. | Consultant surgeon Dr Nasser Kurdy was attacked outside the Altrincham and Hale Muslim Association at about 17:50 BST and was taken to hospital. |
| He has since been discharged and a 54-year-old man and a 32-year-old who were arrested are being questioned. | He has since been discharged and a 54-year-old man and a 32-year-old who were arrested are being questioned. |
| Greater Manchester Police are treating the incident as a hate crime and asked any witnesses to come forward. | Greater Manchester Police are treating the incident as a hate crime and asked any witnesses to come forward. |
| Dr Kurdy heard Islamophobic comments at the time of the attack, community sources said. | |
| Police said the 58-year-old was on his way to the mosque, where he is the vice-chair and has led prayers, when he saw another man across the road. | |
| "A short time later he felt an injury to the back of his neck. He ran into the centre and then called emergency services." | "A short time later he felt an injury to the back of his neck. He ran into the centre and then called emergency services." |
| Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said it was a "nasty and unprovoked attack" to a "much-loved" man. | Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said it was a "nasty and unprovoked attack" to a "much-loved" man. |
| 'Abusive comments' | 'Abusive comments' |
| Dr Khalid Anis, a spokesman for the mosque, said: "It could have been very, very serious. | Dr Khalid Anis, a spokesman for the mosque, said: "It could have been very, very serious. |
| "He [Dr Kurdy] said he noticed someone cross the road and then somebody just attacked him from behind. | "He [Dr Kurdy] said he noticed someone cross the road and then somebody just attacked him from behind. |
| "Obviously he was in shock at the time, he had just been stabbed, so the detail of those comments I don't know - but there were definitely abusive comments made by the attackers at the door of the mosque. | "Obviously he was in shock at the time, he had just been stabbed, so the detail of those comments I don't know - but there were definitely abusive comments made by the attackers at the door of the mosque. |
| "We understand it was a knife, he is very lucky." | "We understand it was a knife, he is very lucky." |
| Akram Malik, chair of the Altrincham and Hale Muslim Association, added: "It is devastating that someone has chosen to attack a community member, on his way to prayer. | Akram Malik, chair of the Altrincham and Hale Muslim Association, added: "It is devastating that someone has chosen to attack a community member, on his way to prayer. |
| "We pray that Dr Kurdy makes a full recovery and the perpetrator faces the full force of justice." | "We pray that Dr Kurdy makes a full recovery and the perpetrator faces the full force of justice." |
| 'Motivated by hate' | 'Motivated by hate' |
| Iftikhar Awan, who attends the mosque with his wife and children, said the community was "in a state of shock". | Iftikhar Awan, who attends the mosque with his wife and children, said the community was "in a state of shock". |
| He added that Dr Kurdy was treated in Wythenshawe Hospital, where he works as an orthopaedic surgeon. | He added that Dr Kurdy was treated in Wythenshawe Hospital, where he works as an orthopaedic surgeon. |
| Det Insp Ben Cottam said Dr Kurdy was attacked "in broad daylight". | Det Insp Ben Cottam said Dr Kurdy was attacked "in broad daylight". |
| ACC Jackson added: "People will want to know why the attacker did this and we are treating this as a crime motivated by hate. | ACC Jackson added: "People will want to know why the attacker did this and we are treating this as a crime motivated by hate. |
| "It is difficult to say more than this at this time but there is nothing to suggest that this is terrorist related." | "It is difficult to say more than this at this time but there is nothing to suggest that this is terrorist related." |
| He said there would be an increased police presence in the areas to "reassure local people". | He said there would be an increased police presence in the areas to "reassure local people". |
| The Muslim Council of Britain said it was shocked by the attack and urged the government to implement its "hate crime action plan". | The Muslim Council of Britain said it was shocked by the attack and urged the government to implement its "hate crime action plan". |