Manchester Victoria stabbing attack

On 31 December 2018 at 20:52 GMT, three people were stabbed in a knife attack at Manchester Victoria station. A man and woman in their 50s and a British Transport Police officer were seriously injured. The suspect, originally held on suspicion of attempted murder, is now detained under the Mental Health Act. Witnesses reported the suspect shouted "Allah"[1][2][3][4] during the attack and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested.[5]

Manchester Victoria stabbing attack
Part of terrorism in the United Kingdom
LocationManchester Victoria station, England
Date31 December 2018
20:52 (GMT)
TargetBystanders, police
Attack type
Stabbing
WeaponsKnife
Deaths0
Injured3
Participant1
DefendersBritish Transport Police

The attack is being investigated as a terrorist incident.[6][7] Prime Minister Theresa May described the incident as a "suspected terrorist attack".[8]

The suspect appears to have acted alone.[4][9]

Victims

Two of the three victims, a couple who had come into town to celebrate the New Year, were hospitalised with serious injuries. The third victim was a British Transport Police officer who received a stab wound to his shoulder.[4]

Suspect

The suspect, due to concerns over his mental health, is being held under the Mental Health Act.[4] He is a 25-year-old man from Somalia who has lived in England for about 10 years and resides in Manchester's Cheetham neighbourhood with his parents and siblings.[7][4] On 31 May 2019, it was reported that the suspect was charged with a terrorism offence and three counts of attempted murder, and is due to appear in court.[10]

Motivation

Police are reported as having an open mind in relation to the motives.[7][9] Greater Manchester Police said that because of the nature of the attack, their officers were looking into the state of the suspect's mental health.[7] The BBC reported that a witness alleged that during the attack he shouted "Allah" and also shouted a slogan "criticising Western governments".[7] BBC producer Sam Clack reported he heard him saying "As long as you keep bombing other countries this sort of s--- is going to keep happening,"[11] According to The Guardian, witnesses heard the attacker shout "Allahu Akbar" after he was arrested and "long live the caliphate".[4]

References
  1. Dodd, Vikram; Busby, Mattha (1 January 2019). "Manchester stabbing: counter-terror police take lead after three attacked at Victoria station". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  2. "Police officer among three injured in Manchester knife attack". The Independent. 31 December 2018. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  3. "Three stabbed at Manchester rail station". BBC. 1 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  4. Parveen, Nazia (1 January 2019). "Manchester anti-terror police question man over stabbings". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  5. Elaine McCahill (1 January 2019). "Manchester Victoria stabbing suspect screams 'Allahu Akbar!' on Snapchat video". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  6. Pérez-Peña, Richard (1 January 2019). "Stabbing in Manchester Train Station Is Being Investigated as Terrorism". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  7. "Manchester Victoria station stabbings 'terror related', say police". BBC. 1 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  8. Theresa May [@theresa_may] (1 January 2019). "My thoughts are with those who were injured in the suspected terrorist attack in Manchester last night" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 January 2019 – via Twitter.
  9. Barnes, Tom (1 January 2019). "Manchester Victoria stabbing: Police treating knife attack as terror after three injured on New Year's Eve". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  10. Rucki, Alexandra (31 May 2019). "Man charged with terrorism offence over Manchester Victoria stabbing". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  11. "Knife attack at Manchester's Victoria Station wounds 3, including police officer". Fox News. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
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