Fahy: Police right to treat stabbings as terror attack
POLICE were right to treat the Victoria Station stabbings as a terror attack, despite the suspect later being detained under the Mental Health Act, Greater Manchester’s former top cop has said.
Former GMP Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy said the New Year’s Eve attack highlighted a growing concern around people with mental health problems being vulnerable to radicalistion.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today’s programme, Sir Peter said: “Obviously, the big question is why would somebody who has got a mental illness be inspired or incited or get an idea to carry out an attack, and this is really the nub of the issue. What we know is that people who perhaps have an existing problem in their lives – a medical issue, an addiction issue, a mental health issue - are particularly vulnerable to be targeted, to be radicalised, and that is why there is much closer working between police and the mental health agencies [while] always respecting patient confidentiality.”
A witness said he heard the suspect shout shout ‘Allah’ after the attack, which was classed as a ‘critical’ incident by police.
A 25-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the attack has been detained under the Mental Health Act. Police raided a house in Cheetham Hill and a counter terrorism investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
Sir Peter, GMP Chief Constable from 2008 to 2015, said any mental health problems suffered by the suspect did not mean the level or fear or risk to the public was reduced.
“I don’t think it stops it from being a terror attack, particularly for the people involved,” he said. He also said the attack highlighted the need for police and security services to work more closely with mental health and social services.
He said: “It does mean that the intelligence services, the police are working much more closely with other agencies - social services, youth organisations, mental health agencies - and this is becoming more and more the focus of the work and that is very different from the time after 11 September or the 7 July bombings. That is why the information from the public, information from family members, information from other agencies, information from medical professionals, is becoming much more important in the agencies identifying people who might be prone to carry out this sort of attack.”
A man and a woman were seriously injured and a police officer suffered a stab wound to the shoulder during the attack, which took place just before 9pm.
The pair are expected to remain in hospital for some time, however their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
The BTP officer has since been released from hospital. THE family of the man detained under the Mental Health Act following a triple stabbing at Victoria Station have released a statement offering ‘thoughts and prayers’ to those injured.
They thanked the emergency services and said the man is being treated by specialist medical staff.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who were seriously injured, their families and friends,” the statement reads.
“We are also eternally grateful for the swift response from the emergency services and the comfort given to those affected by fellow Mancunians and citizens.
“The GMP [sic] have informed us that our family member is currently detained under the Mental Health Act and is being treated by specialist medical staff.”
They added: “We have been informed by the GMP that there is an active ongoing, terrorist investigation and as such we are limited in what we can say at this stage.”