Police have arrested a second suspect in connection with the incident at Manchester Central Mosque after two men allegedly armed with an axe and knife entered the building during prayer time as local councillors and leader voiced their shock.
A man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a section 18 assault, and he remains in police custody for questioning.
The first suspect, a man in his 50s, who was arrested at the mosque during the initial police attendance, remains in custody. A warrant of further detention has been obtained to allow detectives additional time to continue their investigation and conduct further interviews with this man.
Greater Manchester Police said that there was no intelligence to suggest that this incident posed a wider threat to the community, and they are not looking for any further suspects in relation to the incident on Tuesday (Feb 24) night.
Leader of Oldham Council, Cllr Arooj Shah said she was absolutely horrified to hear about the incident at Manchester Central Mosque on Upper Park Road, during Ramadan Prayers adding: "There’s been a worrying rise in hateful incidents targeting our Muslim community nationwide in recent years.
"I have absolutely no doubt that this is a direct consequence of the toxic politics and the constant vilification of British Muslims by far-right politicians and groups. Any attack on a place of worship, particularly during prayer, is utterly abhorrent.
"Everyone has the right to practise their faith in safety and peace. This incident proves why the £40m funding for additional security at mosques, Muslim schools and community centres announced by the Labour Government this week is absolutely necessary to ensure communities are able to live without fear."
Councillor Shoab Akhtar shared his concerns on a Facebook post: “I express my deep concerns regarding the serious security incident at Manchester Central Mosque during Taraweeh prayers.
“Such places of worship must remain sanctuaries of peace and safety. The prompt actions of mosque volunteers undoubtedly averted a more catastrophic outcome.
“This incident, following attacks on other faith communities, highlights the need for vigilance against hate crimes.
“We must unite against Islamophobia and all forms of intolerance, ensuring robust protection for all worship places. The safety of one faith is integral to the safety of all.”
Another local Councillor Dr Zahid Chauhan said on his Facebook page: “I am deeply concerned by the serious security incident at Manchester Central Mosque during Taraweeh prayers.
“A place of worship must always be a place of safety. The swift actions of mosque volunteers likley prevented far more serious harm.
“This follows other recent incidents targeting faith communities. We must stand firmly against Islamaphobia, antisemitism and all forms of hate and ensure proper protection for all places of worship. If we don’t protect every faith community, we fail them all.”
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. You can do this by contacting us on 101 or via the LiveChat function on the GMP website.
"Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.”
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