Manchester Victoria stabbing attack
| Manchester Victoria stabbing attack | |
|---|---|
| Location | Manchester Victoria station, England |
| Date | 31 December 2018 20:52 (GMT) |
| Target | Bystanders, police |
Attack type | Stabbing |
| Weapons | Knife |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 3 |
| Participant | 1 |
| Defenders | British Transport Police |
On 31 December 2018 at 20:52 GMT, three people were stabbed in a knife attack at Manchester Victoria station. A man and woman in their 50s and a British Transport Police officer were seriously injured. The perpetrator, Mahdi Mohamud, was originally detained under the Mental Health Act, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.[1] Witnesses reported the he shouted "Allah"[2][3][4][5] during the attack and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested.[6][7] He appears to have acted alone.[5][8]
Victims
Two of the three victims, a couple who had come into town to celebrate the New Year, were hospitalised with serious injuries. The third victim was a British Transport Police officer who received a stab wound to his shoulder.[5]
Suspect
The suspect, due to concerns over his mental health, was initially held under the Mental Health Act.[5] He is a 25-year-old man from Somalia who has lived in England for about 10 years and resides in Manchester's Cheetham neighbourhood with his parents and siblings.[7][5] On 31 May 2019, it was reported that the suspect was charged with a terrorism offence and three counts of attempted murder, and was due to appear in court.[9] The perpetrator pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a terror offence. [10] In November, 2019 he was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.[1]
Motivation
Police are reported as having an open mind in relation to the motives.[7][8] Greater Manchester Police said that because of the nature of the attack, their officers were looking into the state of the suspect's mental health.[7] The BBC reported that a witness alleged that during the attack he shouted "Allah" and also shouted a slogan "criticising Western governments".[7] BBC producer Sam Clack reported he heard him saying "As long as you keep bombing other countries this sort of s--- is going to keep happening,"[11] According to The Guardian, witnesses heard the attacker shout "Allahu Akbar" after he was arrested and "long live the caliphate".[5]
References
- ^ a b Walker, Amy (27 November 2019). "Man sentenced to life for Manchester Victoria station stabbings". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ Dodd, Vikram; Busby, Mattha (1 January 2019). "Manchester stabbing: counter-terror police take lead after three attacked at Victoria station". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ "Police officer among three injured in Manchester knife attack". The Independent. 31 December 2018. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ "Three stabbed at Manchester rail station". BBC. 1 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f Parveen, Nazia (1 January 2019). "Manchester anti-terror police question man over stabbings". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ Elaine McCahill (1 January 2019). "Manchester Victoria stabbing suspect screams 'Allahu Akbar!' on Snapchat video". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Manchester Victoria station stabbings 'terror related', say police". BBC. 1 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ a b Barnes, Tom (1 January 2019). "Manchester Victoria stabbing: Police treating knife attack as terror after three injured on New Year's Eve". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ Rucki, Alexandra (31 May 2019). "Man charged with terrorism offence over Manchester Victoria stabbing". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ "Knifeman admits railway station stab attacks". BBC News. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ "Knife attack at Manchester's Victoria Station wounds 3, including police officer". Fox News. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
