Manchester stabbing: Arndale Centre evacuated as five injured sparking terror police probe
ANTI-TERROR police have launched an investigating after a knifeman went on the rampage in Manchester’s Arndale Centre.
Manchester: Man held by police with Taser outside Arndale
Five people were taken to hospital with stab injuries following the attack at the busy shopping centre this morning. A man in his 40s has been arrested. A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "We can confirm that five people have been stabbed and taken to hospital."
He continued: "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."
A man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of terror offences.
Social media posts showed a large number of officers at the scene.
North West Ambulance Service said it attended after being called at 11.17am to a stabbing incident.
A spokesman said: “We are still on the scene. It is a stabbing incident. We've got quite a few resources there."
The spokesman did not comment on the severity of the victims’ injuries.
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A large police cordon has been put in place as police secure the scene and although the centre has been evacuated there are reports of people have been kept inside.
Footage from the shopping centre shows a suspect being Tasered and pinned down.
One witness said: "A man was running around with a knife lunging at multiple people.
“Soon after, security staff told all retail staff to close their doors and move the public to the back of the stores."
Shopper Freddie Houlder, 22, from Market Drayton was in the Arndale Centre when he heard "a load of screams just outside" the shop he was in.
He said a woman then came into the shop and told others "a guy just ran past the shop and tried to stab me".
Mr Houlder 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 in to tears."
He said he was evacuated several minutes later at which point he saw "a bunch of curtains covering someone seriously injured or dead, I don't know".
"I definitely don't think it was gang violence because this guy was going around trying to stab random people, I believe."
David Allinson, Centre Director, Manchester Arndale, said: "A serious incident has taken place at Manchester Arndale this morning.
"The centre has been evacuated while police investigate the incident.
"We are unable to comment any further as the incident is currently being handled by Greater Manchester Police, who we will continue to support with their investigation."
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Boris Johnson said he was "shocked" by Arndale Centre attack and that his "thoughts are with the injured and all those affected”.
The Arndale Centre remains closed as investigations continue.
A police cordon is also in place near to the Shudehill entrance to the building with a number of marked police vehicles outside including two carrying dogs.