British police probe Manchester knifings as ‘terrorist’ attack!

Manchester: A British police probe into a triple stabbing at a Manchester railway station on New Year’s Eve which injured three people is now being treated as “a terrorist investigation”, the city’s top officer said on Tuesday.
Counter-terrorism officials have arrested a man who remains in police custody, and are searching an address where he recently lived in the northwestern English city, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said.
Hopkins called it a “horrific attack” on three people, including a police officer, at Manchester Victoria station on Monday evening.
A man and a woman, both in their 50s, are still being treated in hospital after sustaining “serious” injuries, while the officer was also stabbed in the shoulder, he added.
“We are treating this as a terrorist investigation which is being led by counter-terrorism officers with support from Greater Manchester police,” Hopkins told a briefing.
“They were working through the night to piece together the details of what happened and to identify the man who was arrested,” he said, adding that an address in the Cheetham Hill area of the city was being searched.
Prime Minister Theresa May thanked emergency services for their “courageous response”.
She wrote on Twitter: “My thoughts are with those who were injured in the suspected terrorist attack in Manchester last night.” No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which happened at around 8:50pm (20:50 GMT) when many revellers in the city would have been enjoying New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Video footage of the incident shows the male suspect being overpowered by the officers. Manchester police said he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The city’s New Year celebrations went ahead in Albert Square despite the incident, with a firework display taking place as planned, though increased security was brought in.
The city experienced a suicide attack in May 2017, when 22 people were killed and 139 wounded at a concert by the US singer Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena.
The bomber, Salman Abedi, 22, was born and raised in Manchester.
“I know that the events of last night will have affected many people and caused concern,” Hopkins said on Tuesday. “That the incident happened so close to the scene of the terrorist attack on May 22, 2017 makes it even more dreadful.
“Our work will continue to ensure we get to the full facts of what happened and why it took place.”

— AFP