Man arrested for entering Manchester mosque allegedly carrying axe and knife

Police looking for second person seen acting suspiciously at Manchester Central Mosque on Tuesday evening

Police in Manchester have arrested a suspect after a person allegedly entered Manchester Central Mosque with an axe and a knife.

Police were called at about 8.40pm on Tuesday to reports that two men had entered the mosque on Upper Park Road and were acting suspiciously.

Officers arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon and possession of class B drugs. He remains in custody for questioning.

A witness said the suspect was armed with an axe. Four people restrained the suspect and hit him with a fire extinguisher, he said. A statement from the mosque said the man also had a hammer and a knife.

The witness said the approximately 5,000 worshippers inside the mosque were asked to evacuate and that about 15 police cars showed up at the scene. Nobody was injured during the incident.

It is understood the second man of concern was not apprehended. Police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

The Manchester Rusholme MP, Afzal Khan, condemned the attempted attacking, adding: “This is the consequence of far-right politicians scapegoating Muslims. This is Islamophobia, plain and simple.”

Supt Simon Nasim, of Greater Manchester police, said: “Yesterday evening officers attended a local mosque after it was reported that two men were acting suspiciously and carrying an offensive weapon while people were worshipping during the holy month of Ramadan.

“We have swiftly arrested one individual and officers are working to locate the second man. No threats were made and thankfully no one was injured. You may notice an increased presence of patrols in the area while our inquiries continue..”

Nasim added: “There is no place for weapons on our streets and we are committed to ensure all our communities feel safe to worship in peace and go about their daily lives without fear. Anyone committing such offences will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”

John Webster, the force’s assistant chief constable, added: “At this time, it is not clear what the circumstances or intent, if any, was around this incident. I know this uncertainty can cause concern, but it is key that we have the time to question the suspect and speak to as many witnesses as possible to understand the nature of this incident.”

Keir Starmer said he was “concerned” by news of the incient, adding: “I know this will be worrying for Muslim communities, especially during Ramadan, a time of peace and reflection.

“My thanks go to the volunteers and emergency services for their quick response.”

Videos circulating online on Tuesday night showed a heavy police presence outside the mosque, which is located in the Victoria Park area of the city. On Wednesday morning the mosque was quiet, with no visible police presence. Most neighbours said they had not seen or heard any signs of a disturbance.

The mosque said volunteers spotted a suspicious bag and escorted one of the men who had entered the mosque into a side room. “All relevant information and CCTV footage has been passed on to the police who are continuing their investigation,” its statement said.

It added: “The Muslim community in the UK has experienced a notable rise in threats and hostility over recent years. The increase in Islamophobic incidents is a serious concern, and greater resources are urgently needed to address this growing and real risk.

“We will continue to cooperate fully with the police and urge all mosque attendees to remain vigilant. Congregants are advised to travel in groups where possible and to ensure that children are not left unattended.

“The swift and responsible actions of our volunteers played a crucial role in containing the situation. Without their intervention, the consequences could have been far more serious.”

Maryam Khan, who lives close to the mosque, said: “We normally go to the mosque every night. This is the one night we didn’t end up going.

“I think it’s really sad,” she said. “It’s really sad and really horrible to feel unsafe even in a Muslim-dense area. It almost feels like every year there’s something. Whether it’s here, whether it’s down south, there’s always something going on.”

She added: “This feels very, very safe and that’s why we love it here. But we’re definitely thinking twice about going anywhere alone.

“It’s such a disgusting thing to do because [Ramadan] is such a sacred month for us. Violence has never, ever been a part of our religion. No matter what anyone says, it has not got anything to do with our values, and in fact it is something that is so horrible and terrible and scary.

“Living in the UK, to be honest, we’re kind of just always aware that something could happen and something might happen.”

Khan, a Labour MP, said: “I am deeply concerned about the incident that occurred at Manchester Central Mosque last night. Thankfully, everyone is safe, no one is hurt, and Greater Manchester police have arrested one of the suspects.

The incident comes a week after Ramadan began and a day before the byelection in Gorton and Denton, in south-east Greater Manchester, in which Labour, the Greens and Reform UK are vying to take the seat.