KNIFE TERROR AT THE SHOPS
Police take the suspect away HORRIFIED witnesses told how a knifeman randomly stabbed victims during an unprovoked attack in a busy shopping centre yesterday.
The suspect was heard screaming racial abuse as he lunged at people in what police said was an act of terror.
He stabbed three before being wrestled to the ground by officers and tasered.
One of the victims was Chloe Mcgurk, 19, from Glengormley, Co Antrim, on a weekend away with friends. She is being treated for stab wounds but it is understood her injuries are not life-threatening
Her friend Ellen Da Conceicao posted: “All we wanted to do was come over to Manchester for a girly weekend but instead the first shopping centre we step into this happens.
“We’re all so shook and can’t for the life of us understand how someone could be so low to do this.
“I can’t get that man’s face and knife out of my head and probably won’t for a very long time.”
Armed police had surrounded the Arndale Centre in Manchester which was put into lockdown as the 41-year-old went on his rampage. Tables and chairs in a Starbucks coffee shop were seen overturned and splattered with blood.
One shopper told how she saw a woman collapse after being stabbed by the suspect, who was dressed in all black.
The witness said: “I heard a woman scream. I spun around and saw this guy who had a knife in his hand. It looked like he stabbed her back. There was blood pouring from her and she fell to the floor.
“I ran as fast as I could and warned others what happened, there was real panic, people screaming.
“The police were there in minutes and we were evacuated. It was like a nightmare. Like something out of a horror film. It was awful. I can’t get that image out of my head.”
A store worker caught in the chaos added: “A man was running around with a knife lunging at multiple people, one of which came into my store visibly shaken.
“Security told all retail staff to close their doors and move the public to the back of the stores.”
Shopper Janet Loudon, 21, said: “I came out of work and saw a black man shouting racial slurs like ‘n **** r’ and being very hostile towards an Arndale worker, who was also black. He was swearing and telling the public, ‘I’m going to f**k you up’ 999 crews help the injured repeatedly and he got more and more agitated. He was pointing at the police and Arndale workers and saying things like, ‘Just because I’m a n **** r.’ We saw a victim slouched at an ATM which was horrific and she was taken away to be helped.”
The two other people stabbed were a man in his 50s and another woman for whom no age was given. Two others were hurt and also treated. All but one had been discharged last night, police said. The suspect, who is thought to be from Manchester, was also taken to hospital and detained.
He was last night being quizzed by anti-terror police. Officers believe he acted as a lone wolf.
The suspect had began lunging at shoppers as soon as he arrived at the Arndale Centre, which attracts 41 million visitors a year. He was challenged by two police community support officers but chased after
ON WOMAN WHO WAS STABBED IN THE BACK
them with the large blade as they radioed for assistance.
Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said the man had been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation and instigation of an act of terrorism.
He added: “We do not know the motivation for this terrible attack. It appears random, is certainly brutal and extremely frightening for anyone Paramedics treat victim who witnessed it.” Mr Jackson said the incident was “bound to bring back memories of the awful events of 2017”, where 22 people were killed at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena.
Last New Year’s Eve, three people including a police officer were seriously injured after a 25-year-old man stabbed passers-by at nearby Victoria Station.
There was blood pouring from her. It was like a nightmare WITNESS