Man Arrested After Axe, Knife and Hammer Carried Into Manchester Mosque as Police Seek Second Man
The latest development in an incident at Manchester Mosque saw a man taken into custody after he allegedly entered Manchester Central Mosque carrying multiple weapons; police are searching for a second man and have involved specialist detectives while mosque volunteers and an off-duty special constable played key roles in preventing escalation.
Arrest, charges and differing descriptions of the suspect
Police arrested a man on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon and possession of Class B drugs; he remains in custody for questioning. Descriptions of the arrested individual vary in the available accounts: one report described him as a man in his 40s, while another described a white man in his 50s who was wearing hi-vis clothing. The force has said the suspect is being held on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and class B drugs.
What happened inside Manchester Mosque and who alerted police
Police were called to Manchester Central Mosque on Upper Park Road in the Victoria Park area of Rusholme after reports that two men were acting suspiciously. Times given for when officers were called vary in the accounts: about 20: 40 GMT on Tuesday, about 8. 40pm on Tuesday and around 8. 30pm on Tuesday are all cited. Police confirmed the incident was called in by an off-duty special constable who had been present at the time. Volunteers at the mosque challenged and engaged one of the men after he entered during Taraweeh prayers, kept him talking and escorted him into a side room or office while police were contacted.
Weapons, items found and how volunteers restrained the suspect
Items reported to have been carried by the arrested man include an axe, a knife and a hammer; one account also mentions a hammer and a suspicious bag. A witness described the suspect as armed with an axe and said four people restrained him and hit him with a fire extinguisher. Another account notes volunteers spotted an axe in his bag and ushered him into an office. The mosque chairman stated the man had been seen visiting before and that he carried other materials, described as relating to World War Two and some newspaper cuttings, which police now have.
Numbers inside, police response and scene detail
Estimates of how many worshippers were present differ across accounts: one figure given is about 2, 000 people inside at the time, while another witness account said approximately 5, 000 worshippers were asked to evacuate. Police presence at the scene was described as heavy, with one report saying about 15 police cars attended. One account adds that officers responded within 15 minutes of the call. On the morning after the incident the mosque was reported to be quiet with no visible police presence and neighbours said they had not seen or heard signs of a disturbance.
Second man sought and suspect description for follow-up
Officers are working to locate a second man who was reported as acting suspiciously in the mosque at the same time. He is described in one detailed account as a black man in his late 40s with an athletic build and an element described in the provided context that is unclear; he was said to be wearing a grey hoodie and a navy blue jacket with both hoods up, blue tracksuit bottoms and white trainers. Police have said they are reviewing all available CCTV and body-worn video to identify and locate this second individual and have asked the public to come forward with information.
Investigation, counter-terrorism involvement and wider community reaction
The force has said it is working with detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing North West or with counter-terrorism police while also stating it had not formally declared the incident to be terror-related. Senior officers said there was no suggestion the arrested man made any threats or confronted members of the congregation and that no one was injured. The mosque described the event as a "serious security incident" and confirmed that all relevant information and CCTV footage has been passed on to police. The mosque also warned of a rise in threats and hostility toward the Muslim community and said greater resources are urgently needed to address that risk; the mosque statement included the phrase "We will continue to cooperate" in relation to the investigation.
Political and local leaders expressed concern. Manchester Rusholme MP Afzal Khan described the incident as the consequence of far-right politicians scapegoating Muslims and called it Islamophobia. Keir Starmer said he was concerned by news of the incident, noting it would be worrying for Muslim communities, especially during Ramadan, and thanked volunteers and emergency services for their quick response.
At this time, police say it is not clear what the circumstances or intent, if any, were around the incident; inquiries remain ongoing and details may evolve as the investigation continues.
