Suspect detained over Manchester NYE stabbings

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A 25-year-old man was detained on Tuesday over the New Year's Eve stabbing of three people in the northwestern UK city of Manchester, as police continued to investigate possible links to terrorism.

The suspect was being assessed for mental health issues on Tuesday, police said.

A raid of the man's home in the city's Cheetham Hill area also took place.

The unnamed man reportedly shouted "Allah" as he carried out his attack with a kitchen knife at Manchester Victoria train station on New Year's Eve on Monday.

A man and a woman, both in their 50s, were still being treated in hospital after sustaining "serious" injuries but were not in life-threatening condition, police said. A police officer in his 30s who sustained a stab wound to his shoulder, was released from hospital earlier.

Police officers stand outside a house being searched in connection to a stabbing at Victoria Station in Manchester, UK, January 1, 2019. /VCG Photo

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins told a briefing: "We are treating this as a terrorist investigation which is being led by counter-terrorism officers with support from Greater Manchester police."

"They were working through the night to piece together the details of what happened and to identify the man who was arrested."

Video footage of the incident shows the suspect being overpowered by the officers.

The police said he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and officers had recovered two knives from the scene.

The suspect's motives were still unclear but so far, he seemed to have acted alone, police said.

"We are obviously considering his mental health given how frenzied the attack was, its random nature," said Manchester police Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson.

"There is wide reporting... about what the attacker allegedly said during the incident.

"However it's really important to stress we are retaining an open mind in relation to the motivation for this attack."

Prime Minister Theresa May thanked emergency services for their "courageous response" in swiftly tackling the suspect.

"My thoughts are with those who were injured in the suspected terrorist attack in Manchester last night," she wrote on Twitter.

New Year celebrations in Manchester's Albert Square went ahead despite the incident, with a firework display taking place as planned, though increased security was brought in.

Victoria Station is close to the Manchester Arena where a suicide bomber struck a concert by US singer Ariana Grande in May 2017, killing 22 people and wounding 139.

(Top picture: Police officers are seen at Victoria Station in Manchester, UK, January 1, 2019. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters