Manchester Victoria stabbing attack

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.[2] Witnesses reported the he shouted "Allah"[3][4][5][6] during the attack and "Allahu Akbar" after being arrested.[7][8] He appears to have acted alone.[6][9]

Manchester Victoria stabbing attack
Part of Islamic terrorism in Europe
LocationManchester Victoria station, England
Date31 December 2018
20:52 (GMT)
TargetBystanders, police
Attack type
Stabbing
WeaponsKnife
Deaths0
Injured3
DefendersBritish Transport Police
MotiveIslamist terrorism[1]
ConvictedMahdi Mohamud

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.[6]

Suspect

The suspect, due to concerns over his mental health, was initially held under the Mental Health Act.[6] 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.[8][6] 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.[10] The perpetrator pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted murder and a terror offence.[11] In November, 2019 he was sentenced to life imprisonment in a high-security psychiatric hospital.[2]

Motivation

Police are reported as having an open mind in relation to the motives.[8][9] 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.[8] The BBC reported that a witness alleged that during the attack he shouted "Allah" and also shouted a slogan "criticising Western governments".[8] 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,"[12] According to The Guardian, witnesses heard the attacker shout "Allahu Akbar" after he was arrested and "long live the caliphate".[6]

References
  1. "Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2019 (TE-SAT)". Europol. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  2. Walker, Amy (27 November 2019). "Man sentenced to life for Manchester Victoria station stabbings". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  3. 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.
  4. "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.
  5. "Three stabbed at Manchester rail station". BBC. 1 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. "Manchester Victoria station stabbings 'terror related', say police". BBC. 1 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  9. 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.
  10. Rucki, Alexandra (31 May 2019). "Man charged with terrorism offence over Manchester Victoria stabbing". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  11. "Knifeman admits railway station stab attacks". BBC News. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  12. "Knife attack at Manchester's Victoria Station wounds 3, including police officer". Fox News. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
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