A second suspect has been arrested after a man armed with an axe was spotted during Ramadan prayers at a mosque in Manchester.
Police were called to Manchester Central Mosque at around 8:40pm on Tuesday evening following reports of a white man in a high-viz jacket carrying a bag with an axe inside. The force said the man purported to be doing work on the building, but was reported to the police by staff who had no knowledge of any works.
Greater Manchester Police said one suspect, a man in his 50s, remains in police custody after he was arrested at the scene on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon and possession of class B drugs. A second suspect, a man in his 20s, has now been detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit assault, the force said.
Nobody was hurt during the incident, and officers said there is “no intelligence” to suggest it poses a wider threat to the community. The force added they are not seeking any further suspects and that the investigation is ongoing.
Assistant Chief Constable John Webster said: “Our investigation has been working at pace, leading to us making an arrest for the outstanding man this morning. Detectives will be conducting interviews with him today.
“We continue to take this incident seriously and have been granted extra time by the courts to question the first man, so we can thoroughly explore all possible lines of enquiry into the circumstances.
“We know this has been a concerning time for many of our communities, and we remain committed to acting on any concerns reported to us.”
Sir Keir Starmer expressed concern about the incident, saying on Wednesday: “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.
“We have provided up to £40 million funding for additional security at mosques, Muslim schools and community centres, and will continue to act to ensure communities are able to live without fear.”
In a statement, the mosque said a “serious security incident” had occurred during prayers. It said volunteers spotted a “suspicious bag containing an axe” before they escorted a man to a separate room.
“The Muslim community in the UK has experienced a notable rise in threats and hostility over recent years,” it added.
“The increase in Islamophobic incidents is a serious concern, and greater resources are urgently needed to address this growing and real risk.”
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