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Five injured in multiple stabbings at Manchester Arndale center – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

Five injured in multiple stabbings at Manchester Arndale center – The Guardian, Theguardian.com


Counter-terrorism police are leading an investigation into a series of stabbings at the Arndale shopping center, Greater Manchester police have said.

Five people were stabbed and taken to hospital after the attacks on Friday morning, according to North West Ambulance Service. GMP said “multiple people” had been injured in the incident, and that a man in his 40 s had been arrested on suspicion of serious assault and was being questioned.

In a statement, GMP said: “In these early stages we are keeping an open mind about the motivation of this terrible incident and the circumstances as we know them. Given the location of the incident and its nature, officers from Counter Terrorism Police North West are leading the investigation as we determine the circumstances. ”

MI5, the domestic security service that leads on counterterrorism investigations, is also monitoring events in Manchester following the stabbings.

Manchester Arndale map

Video footage and photographs showed armed police officers deployed around the Exchange Square side of the shopping center. One clip showed officers using a Taser and holding a man to the ground before arresting him.

In other video and pictures posted on Twitter, a large number of emergency service vehicles were seen arriving at the center.

It is unknown whether the attacks have resulted in any fatalities but an ambulance service spokeswoman said paramedics had treated four people.

Footage showed people being taken away on stretchers, and members of the public were asked to stay away from the shopping center.

Armed police officers wearing face coverings were stationed outside
the shopping center as a long queue of ambulances arrived and a police helicopter hovered overhead. Plainclothes detectives arrived at the scene while uniformed officers told people the Arndale would be closed for some time.

A shop worker, who gave his name as Jordan, told the PA Media news agency: “A man was running around with a knife lunging at multiple people, one of which came into my store shaken with a small graze. Soon after, security staff told all retail staff to close their doors and move the public to the back of the stores. ”

Jordan, 23, who has been working at the center for only a few months, said the attack took place on the ground floor.

Freddie Houlder, 22, from Market Drayton, was also in the center when he heard “a load of screams just outside ”the shop he was in. He said a woman came inside and told others “a guy just ran past the shop and tried to stab me”.

He added: “Luckily she had quite a thick jacket. She thought originally it was a fake knife because of how easily it grazed off, but police came in and said it was a real knife and she burst into tears. ”He said he was evacuated several minutes later.

In response to the incident, Boris Johnson, the prime minister, tweeted: “Shocked by the incident in Manchester and my thoughts are with the injured and all those affected. Thank you to our excellent emergency services who responded and who are now investigating what happened. ”

Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, tweeted: “Shocked and saddened to hear about the events that have taken place at the Arndale center in Manchester. I
will remain closely informed and updated on the situation. ”

The UK’s threat level is severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. In recent days, there have been suspected terrorist attacks in France and Germany, but other incidents in the UK suggest motives can be hard to determine in the immediate aftermath.

Placing the north-west counter-terrorism unit in charge of the investigation of the Manchester stabbings is a precaution at this stage. Rapid inquiries into the person in custody will determine whether it stays in the lead, or whether the incident passes back to regular police.

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