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Three people stabbed at Manchester Victoria railway station Manchester stabbing: counter-terror police take lead after three attacked at Victoria station
(about 1 hour later)
Three people including a police officer have been stabbed at Manchester Victoria, prompting the closure of the railway station. Counter-terrorism police are leading an investigation after a man went on a rampage with a knife in Manchester during New Year’s Eve celebrations on Monday night, stabbing three people including a police officer and shouting Islamist slogans.
A man was arrested and two people, a man and a woman, were taken to hospital with stab wounds, along with a British Transport Police officer who was also being treated after being stabbed in the shoulder. National security officials in government, police and security services are assisting the investigation after the officer was stabbed in the shoulder and a man and woman in their fifties were left with serious injuries in the attack at Manchester Victoria railway station. Both had abdominal injuries and the woman also had wounds to her face.
Police were called to the station shortly before 9pm after a “knife-wielding man” attacked members of the public before appearing to resist arrest, stabbing an officer as he was pinned down, according to a witness. A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Police said there was nothing to suggest a wider threat to the public. Rob Potts, assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said officers were keeping an “open mind”. He said: “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 that there is any wider threat at this time.”
BTP said: “Officers are attending Manchester Victoria station following reports of a man wielding a knife. British Transport police said: “We received the call at 8.52pm on Monday 31 December. A man has been detained and two members of the public, a man and a woman, have been taken to hospital with knife injuries. A BTP officer is also receiving treatment for a stab wound to the shoulder.”
“We received the call at 8.52pm on Monday 31 December. A man has been detained and two members of the public, a man and a woman, have been taken to hospital with knife injuries. A BTP officer is also receiving treatment for a stab wound to the shoulder. Sam Clack, a BBC producer, was waiting for a tram when the attack took place. Clack told the Press Association: “I just heard this most bloodcurdling scream and looked down the platform. What it looked like was a guy in his 60s with a woman of similar age and another guy all dressed in black.
“British Transport Police remain at the scene along with colleagues from Greater Manchester police and the North West ambulance service.”
North West ambulance service said three people had been taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary in a “very serious condition”.
“We sent three ambulances in response to a major trauma,” said a spokesperson. “The victims were taken in to the hospital on standby, indicating the seriousness of their conditions.”
One witness said the attacker had shouted words pointing to a political motive.
The north-west counter-terrorism unit, which covers the Manchester area, is involved in the investigation. But sources stressed the motive was unclear and that the counter-terrorism unit had not taken the lead, and inquiries were continuing.
Sam Clack, a BBC producer, was waiting for a tram when the attack took place. He tweeted:
Just been very close to the most terrifying thing. Man stabbed in Manchester Victoria station on tram platform. Feet from me, I was close to jumping on the tracks as attacker had long kitchen knife. Totally shaken. This is seriously messed up. pic.twitter.com/CnUw7j2TOTJust been very close to the most terrifying thing. Man stabbed in Manchester Victoria station on tram platform. Feet from me, I was close to jumping on the tracks as attacker had long kitchen knife. Totally shaken. This is seriously messed up. pic.twitter.com/CnUw7j2TOT
Clack told the Press Association: “I just heard this most bloodcurdling scream and looked down the platform. What it looked like was a guy in his 60s with a woman of similar age and another guy all dressed in black. “It looked like they were having a fight, but she was screaming in this blood-curdling way. I saw police in high-vis come towards him. He came towards me. I looked down and saw he had a kitchen knife with a black handle with a good 12-inch blade. It was just fear, pure fear.”
“It looked like they were having a fight, but she was screaming in this blood curdling way. I saw police in high-vis come towards him. He came towards me,” he added. “I looked down and saw he had a kitchen knife with a black handle with a good 12-inch blade. It was just fear, pure fear.” Clack said police used a Taser and pepper spray before “six or seven” officers jumped on the man. “It was scary. I have never been so scared in my life. Someone with a knife six to eight feet away, he had just stabbed someone. It was the proximity. It just highlights the fact that it can happen anywhere.”
A bulletin posted on National Rail’s website said there would be no arrivals or departures at the railway station until about 12.30am. Victoria station was closed after the attack, though the city’s fireworks display in Albert Square went ahead amid increased security.
Metrolink tram services have also been disrupted. Greater Manchester police said: “We are currently managing an incident at Victoria train station in Manchester. The Metrolink through the station is suspended.” The incident comes after a year without any terrorist attacks getting past efforts by MI5 and police to thwart them. But both authorities say they are still extremely busy dealing with a total of 700 investigations into terrorism. In 2017 a total of five attacks escaped efforts to detect them – four in London and one in Manchester.
Three people including a police officer have been stabbed at Manchester Victoria station. Here's a video of the scene. pic.twitter.com/fX1b4Zxzew The terrorism threat level for the UK remains at severe, meaning an attack is assessed as being highly likely.
The city’s fireworks display in Albert Square tonight will still go ahead with security increased. In the early stages of the Manchester investigation detectives will examine any jihadist links of the suspect, and also his mental health history.
Manchester city council tweeted: “The fireworks in Albert Square are going ahead despite the incident at Victoria station. There will be increased security. Have a safe and happy New Year.” North West ambulance service said three people had been taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary in a “serious condition”.
“We sent three ambulances in response to a major trauma,” said a spokesperson. “The victims were taken in to the hospital on standby, indicating the seriousness of their conditions.”
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