Knife attacker ‘shouting Allah’ launches frenzied attack on man and woman in ‘terrifying’ attack at Manchester’s Victoria Station then stabs officer as he is pepper sprayed and Tasered
By George Martin (Daily Mail) / Dec 31 2018
A knifeman shouting ‘Allah’ has been arrested after stabbing three people in a brutal frenzy in Manchester Victoria station this evening.
At least three people were stabbed in the brutal attack at the city center transport hub – including one British Transport Police officer and two members of the public.
British Transport Police confirmed that an attacker armed with a ‘long knife’ went on a frenzied rampage through the station just before 9pm on Monday.
A man and a woman, and a BTP officer were taken to hospital with stab injuries.
The knifeman is now in police custody, having been arrested by armed police attending the scene.
BBC journalist Sam Clack who came within touching distance of the attacker, said he heard the man shout ‘Allah’ as he launched the terrifying frenzy.
In an interview with BBC News, Mr Clack later said: ‘It was pretty scary. It was just me on the platform and as I was standing there I heard the most blood-curdling scream I had ever heard from a woman nearby.
‘It looked like there was a fight going on. I heard the guy starting ‘Allah’ distinctly. I didn’t hear the rest of the sentence.’
‘Police very quickly were on the platform and the guy started backing up towards me. And he got to within seven or eight feet of me and was looking around very skittish.
‘And I looked down and in his hand I saw that the man had a kitchen knife with a black handle and a long 12-inch blade.’
One of the police officers then tried to taser the attacker, but missed, before another officer pepper sprayed the man and took him to the ground.
According to Mr Clack several officers then wrestled him into submission although he appeared to be ‘resisting arrest’.
We are currently managing an incident at Victoria train station in Manchester. The Metrolink through the station is suspended. More updates will follow.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) December 31, 2018
Then Mr Clack said as he tried to walk past and get away the attacker said: ‘As long as you keep bombing other countries this sort of s**t is going to keep happening.’
The attack took place just a few hundred meters away from the Manchester Arena, scene of the deadly bombing in May 2017 which killed 23 revellers at an Ariana Grande concert.
The Metrolink has been cordoned off and the station is currently shut down while police investigate the scene.
BTP said in a statement: ‘Officers are attending Manchester Victoria station following reports of a man wielding a knife.
‘We received the call at 8.52pm on Monday, 31 December.
‘A man has been detained and two members of the public, a man and a woman have been taken to hospital with knife injuries.
Greater Manchester Police tweeted: ‘We are currently managing an incident at Victoria train station in Manchester. The Metrolink through the station is suspended. More updates will follow.’
