When: 11 October 2019
Where: Arndale Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
Who: Unnamed 41 year old man
What: Bladed weapon attack in urban shopping centre
Deaths: 0
Injuries: 5
Type: Islamist Attack
Summary:
On 11 October at around 11:15hrs, an unnamed 41-year-old man began attacking people on the ground floor of the the Arndale Centre in central Manchester. The assailant injured at least five people, with one victim suffering serious injuries. Local police said that none of the injuries are thought to be life threatening. Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) tasered and detained the assailant. Police also imposed a cordon around the centre and closed several roads, although the cordon has been reduced to the immediate vicinity as of 15:04hrs. The Arndale Centre itself remains closed and centre managers have reportedly told staff that it will not open today. GMP Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said that the suspect has been detained on suspicion of commission, preparation, and instigation of an act of terrorism. He also said that police do not believe there is a wider threat and that they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the attack. He added that GMP protocol Operation Plato - the response for dealing with a marauding terrorist attack – was initially declared today, but reduced from that status shortly afterwards
Assessment:
Greater Manchester Police have said that they do not believe that there is an ongoing threat to the public and that they hope to return Manchester city centre to normal by tomorrow. Assistant Chief Constable Jackson said at around 15:47hrs that the attack seemed random and that police have not yet identified a motivation for the incident. He added that police intend to increase security around the city centre over the weekend, including armed police patrols. The methodology used by the attacker in this incident - a marauding bladed weapons attack - could suggest an Islamist leaning. A similar stabbing attack in Manchester occurred on 31 December 2018, when a 25-year-old man of Somali origins stabbed three people at Manchester Victoria train station whilst shouting Islamist slogans. The UK terrorism threat level remains at SEVERE and further attacks are possible. The age of the suspect is notable as, historically, most terrorists have overwhelmingly been young adults. However, as demonstrated by the Westminster Bridge attacker Khalid Masood (aged 52), participation in extremist violence is not the exclusive preserve of the young. We will continue to monitor the incident as new information comes to light over the weekend and into next week.
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