Manchester police investigating New Year's Eve stabbings detain man under Mental Health Act

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the man is being detained under the Mental Health Act and added that they do not believe other people were involved in the attack.

A male police officer was stabbed in the shoulder, and another man and a woman were taken to a hospital with serious knife injuries after the "horrific" attack just before 9 p.m. (4 p.m. ET) Monday at the Manchester Victoria railway station, police said in a statement.

"We experienced a horrific attack on people out to simply enjoy the New Year's Eve celebrations in Manchester," Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said in the statement.

He added that counter terrorism officers were leading the investigation into the attack, which happened close to the scene of the Manchester Arena bombing that killed 22 people in May 2017.

Hopkins said police officers "acted with incredible bravery in tackling the armed attacker at the busy Metrolink station and ensured he was immediately detained."

BBC producer Sam Clack was on the platform when the attack took place. Clack told the British broadcaster he heard a "blood-curdling scream" and observed what "looked like a fight going on ... sort of scuffle."

He heard the man distinctly shout "Allah," he said, but he didn't hear the rest of the sentence.

"The police were on the platform very quickly," he said. Police used pepper spray and a Taser to get the man to the ground, Clack said. "He was very much resisting arrest."

Shortly after the incident, Clack said on Twitter that he had, "Just been very close to the most terrifying thing. Man stabbed in Manchester Victoria station on tram platform. Feet from me, I was close to jumping on the tracks as attacker had long kitchen knife. Totally shaken. This is seriously messed up."

The two other victims, both in their 50s, suffered injuries to their abdomens and the woman suffered additional injures to her face, police said, though their wounds are not considered to be life-threatening.

New Year's Eve fireworks at Albert Square went on as planned despite the incident, according to the Manchester City Council.

CNN's Samantha Beech and Susanna Capelouto in Atlanta, Nada Bashir and Sheena McKenzie in London and Helen Regan in Hong Kong contributed to this story.

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