Hurt officer risked life to stop terror attack

A POLICE sergeant was stabbed after showing “incredible bravery” to prevent a suspected terrorist from rampaging through a train station just yards from the scene of the Manchester Arena suicide bombing.

A couple in their 50s were seriously injured in the “frenzied” and “random” New Year’s Eve attack on a platform at Manchester Victoria Metrolink station.

The police officer, who is in his 30s, was also wounded as he and three colleagues rushed to the scene after hearing “a blood curdling scream” at just before 9pm.

Praise for the officer came as police said last night the suspect had been detained

under the Mental Health Act after assessment by specialist medical staff.

Last night, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, said the attack happened close to the site of the Manchester Arena bombing, in which 22 people died in 2017. Police chiefs and politicians praised the officers’ actions in putting themselves at risk to save the couple and prevent the man marauding through the station.

Asst Chief Constable Sean O’callaghan from British Transport Police said: “They were fearless, running towards danger and preventing further harm coming to passengers.”

The suspect, aged 25, was caught on video shouting “Allahu akbar” as he was ushered into the back of a police van following his arrest. Witnesses

said he was heard to scream: “Long live the Caliphate” in possible reference to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

One witness claimed he shouted: “As long as you keep bombing other countries, this sort of s---- is going to keep happening.”

Police said: “There is nothing to suggest the involvement of other people in this attack, but confirming this remains a main priority for the investigation.”

A house in Cheetham Hill, north Manchester – thought to be the man’s last known address – was searched yesterday by counter-terrorism police.

Neighbours suggested the suspect was of Somali-origin and was thought to have lived in the Netherlands before

moving to the UK about 10 to 15 years ago. One neighbour said his mother, who has five children, was a nurse while his brother worked at Manchester airport. A police source said the suspect was refusing to co-operate and detectives were working to establish his identity. He is believed to have acted alone.

The attack took place at a tram station that forms part of the complex that includes the Manchester Arena, where in May 2017, Salman Abedi, an Isil supporter, blew himself up killing 23 people, more than half of them children, as they left an Ariana Grande concert.

Mr Burnham told The Daily Telegraph: “This attack has brought back some very painful memories for everyone involved, particularly given how close it was to the Manchester Arena, which appears to have been deliberate.

‘This has brought back some very painful memories ... particularly given how close it was to Manchester Arena’

But the city is strong, united and resilient and the way the incident was dealt with by the emergency services and others was exemplary.”

Video footage from the scene shows the man pinned to the ground by police. He was thought to have carried two knives, one of which appeared to be a foot-long kitchen knife.

In the days before the New Year’s Eve attack, Isil had urged its followers to carry out a knife attack in the UK.

The British Transport Police officers had been patrolling the adjacent Victoria train station when they rushed to help the couple from Manchester who suffered multiple stab wounds. They used a Taser stun gun and “Captor gel”, an irritant designed to incapacitate suspects, in arresting the man.

The woman was stabbed in the face – suffering a “significant injury” to her forehead – while the man was wounded in the stomach. They are expected to remain in hospital for some time while the officer stabbed in the shoulder was discharged yesterday morning.

Ian Hopkins, Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable, said: “My thoughts are with the couple who are still being treated in hospital for their serious injuries and with the brave British Transport Police officer who was also stabbed during the attack.

“We are treating this as a terrorist investigation which is being led by counter terrorism officers with support from Greater Manchester Police.”