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Manchester stabbing: counter-terror police take lead after three attacked at Victoria station Manchester stabbing: counter-terror police take lead after three attacked at Victoria station
(35 minutes later)
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. 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 was heard shouting Islamist slogans.
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. 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 50s 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.
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.”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.”
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.” 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.”
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. 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 blood-curdling 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.
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
“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. 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.” Clack said he also heard the man shouting “Allah” during the attack. “He shouted it before, he shouted it during it – Allah.” Clack added: “The guy, his exact words were, he said: ‘As long as you keep bombing other countries, this sort of shit is going to keep happening’.”
He 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 [about two metres] away, he had just stabbed someone. It was the proximity. It just highlights the fact that it can happen anywhere.”
Victoria station was closed after the attack, though the city’s fireworks display in Albert Square went ahead amid increased security.Victoria station was closed after the attack, though the city’s fireworks display in Albert Square went ahead amid increased security.
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.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.
The terrorism threat level for the UK remains at severe, meaning an attack is assessed as being highly likely.The terrorism threat level for the UK remains at severe, meaning an attack is assessed as being highly likely.
In the early stages of the Manchester investigation detectives will examine any jihadist links of the suspect, and also his mental health history.In the early stages of the Manchester investigation detectives will examine any jihadist links of the suspect, and also his mental health history.
North West ambulance service said three people had been taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary in a “serious condition”.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.”“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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