This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/31/three-people-stabbed-at-manchester-victoria-railway-station

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Manchester stabbing: counter-terror police take lead after three attacked at Victoria station Manchester police scour Victoria station after multiple stabbing
(about 3 hours 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 was heard shouting Islamist slogans. Police forensic officers are scouring Manchester’s Victoria station after a man stabbed three people, including a British Transport police officer, during New Year’s Eve celebrations.
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. The incident, classified as critical, was being investigated by counter-terrorism police officers after the perpetrator was allegedly heard shouting Islamist slogans. A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody.
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.” National security officials in government, police and security services were helping the investigation in which the British Transport police officer was stabbed in the shoulder, a man and woman in their 50s sustained abdominal injuries, and the woman received wounds to her face.
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.” The officer, a sergeant in his 30s, was later released from hospital, Greater Manchester police said. Manchester city centre police said the incident just before 9pm was one of several “serious crime incidents” overnight, with 15 arrests being made and a total of 120 incidents recorded since 7pm on Monday.
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. They said in a tweet just after 6am on Tuesday that officers had “done a great job of looking after people in the city”.
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/CnUw7j2TOT The former chief constable of Greater Manchester police Sir Peter Fahy commended the courage of the officers who dealt with the station incident.
“It would certainly appear police officers showed incredible bravery in tackling the attacker at Manchester’s Victoria Station last night, saving lives,” he said.
Greater Manchester police said the cordon at the station would be lifted soon, but a large police presence would remain in place. They also said the officer who was attacked, a sergeant in his 30s, had been released from hospital.
“You will see more officers in and around the station throughout the morning but this is not as a result of any increased threat,” the police said. “Please follow directions from officers on the ground and speak to them if you have any concerns.”
Rob Potts, the assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said officers were keeping an open mind about the attack. “[The] 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.”
Sam Clack, a BBC producer, was waiting for a tram when the attack took place, said: “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.
“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 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’.” Clack said he heard the man shouting “Allah” during the attack. “He shouted it before, he shouted it during it – Allah.
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.” “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.’”
Victoria station was closed after the attack, though the city’s fireworks display in Albert Square went ahead amid increased security. He said police used a laser gun and pepper spray on the man before “six or seven” officers jumped on him. “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.”
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. 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/CnUw7j2TOT
The North West ambulance service said it sent three vehicles to the incident and took all three victims to hospital for treatment. While the station was closed after the attack, the city’s fireworks display in Albert Square went ahead amid increased security.
There have been no major terrorist attacks in the UK for the past year but MI5 and the police say they remain extremely busy dealing with 700 investigations into suspected terrorism. In 2017, there were five terrorist attacks – 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. UK news
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.”
Manchester
Greater Manchester
Knife crime
Crime
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content