UK police probe Manchester knifings as ‘terrorist’ attack

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: A British police probe into a triple stabbing at a Manchester railway station on New Year’s Eve which injured three people is now being treated as “a terrorist investigation”, the city’s top officer said on Tuesday.

Counter-terrorism police have arrested a 25-year-old man who remains in custody, and are searching an address where he recently lived in the northwestern English city, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said.

The suspect reportedly shouted ‘Allah’ during what Hopkins called a “horrific attack” on three people, including a police officer, at Manchester Victoria station on Monday evening.

A man and a woman, both in their 50s, are still being treated in hospital after sustaining “serious” injuries, while the officer was stabbed in the shoulder.

“We are treating this as a terrorist investigation which is being led by counter-terrorism officers with support from Greater Manchester police,” he told a briefing.

“They were working through the night to piece together the details of what happened and to identify the man who was arrested.”

Hopkins said counter-terrorism officers were searching an address near the city centre “which is believed to be where the man had most recently been living”.

Prime Minister Theresa May thanked emergency services for their “courageous response” in swiftly tackling the suspect.

She wrote on Twitter: “My thoughts are with those who were injured in the suspected terrorist attack in Manchester last night.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which happened at around 8.50pm (2050 GMT) when many revellers in the city would have been enjoying New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Witness Sam Clack, 38, a BBC radio producer, said the suspect shouted ‘Allah’ before and during the attack.

He also quoted the perpetrator as saying: “As long as you keep bombing other countries, this sort of sh** is going to keep happening.” — AFP