The suspect arrested over the stabbings at Manchester Victoria Station on New Year’s Eve has been detained under the Mental Health Act, police have confirmed.
Greater Manchester Police said the 25-year-old man from Cheetham Hill, Manchester had been assessed by medical staff on Tuesday afternoon after being taken into custody yesterday evening.
The man, who has yet to be identified, stabbed three people including a police officer in Manchester Victoria station on New Year's Eve while screaming 'Allahu Akbar'.
Anti-terror officers raided his home in the city today and spoke to neighbours who said they believe the house was inhabited by a Somali couple.
Neighbours also said the couple have four or five children, who reportedly moved with their parents to the UK from the Netherlands around 12 years ago.
A witness who considered jumping onto the tracks to escape the knifeman took this photo of the aftermath after two rail passengers and a policeman were stabbed last night
In footage, said to show the suspect being put in the back of a police van after his arrest, he can be heard shouting 'Allahu Akbar'
Footage of the aftermath of the 'frenzied' attack at Manchester's Victoria Station last night shows a man being pinned down by five police officers, with blood stains on the pavement.
Another video shows the suspect shouting 'Allahu Akbar', meaning 'God is most great' in Arabic, as he was put in the back of a police van. He was also heard screaming: 'Long live the Caliphate', a reference to the enclave carved out by terror group ISIS.
A witness said he also shouted: 'As long as you keep bombing other countries, this sort of s*** is going to keep happening.'
Nousha Babaakachel, a neighbour of the home raided, said a Somali family live at the address.
She said the couple have two sons are at university, one working at Manchester Airport and the youngest son is back in Somalia. They also have a daughter.
Both parents attend a local mosque, Ms Babaakachel said.
Pictures of the aftermath show the suspect's trainer on the floor as an officer removes the knife. It is thought the attacker was armed with two knives
Anti-terror police have raided a house in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester
A number of people, thought to be the suspect's family, were led away by police this afternoon
Police have been coming and going from the Cheetham Hill property, where neighbours say a Somali family have lived for 12 years
Witnesses to last night's events have praised the British Transport Police officer who was stabbed in the shoulder after 'bravely and immediately' confronting the attacker during a routine patrol.
BTP Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan said: 'I am incredibly proud of the four officers who were immediately on scene last night, detaining a man who was wielding a knife.
'They were fearless, running towards danger and preventing further harm coming to passengers.
'Unfortunately however, one of our police officers suffered a stab injury to their shoulder and we're all relieved that this is not more serious. It is good news that he has now been discharged from hospital, we are all wishing him a speedy recovery.'
Prime Minister Theresa May said: 'My thoughts are with those who were injured in the suspected terrorist attack in Manchester last night. I thank the emergency services for their courageous response.'
Home Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted on Tuesday evening: 'Just had an update from @TerrorismPolice about last night's £ManchesterVictoria incident and their investigation. Can't praise police and emergency services response enough - swift and brave.'
It is understood the property is the last known address of the man being questioned by police
A police officer stood guard outside the home, where a Somali family of seven are said to live
A man and a woman were pictured receiving treatment after the incident on Monday evening
A witness told the Daily Mirror: 'As soon as I heard the screaming they were running to the scene to protect everyone. They are heroes.'
Police said a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody as his home is searched. They could not confirm whether he had previously been flagged to them.
Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said a couple in their 50s suffered multiple stab wounds in the 'frenzied' and 'random' attack around 9pm, during which the attacker wielded two knives.
Mr Jackson said: 'We believe we have identified the man in custody. In fact we are currently searching an address in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester.
'We know the attacker arrived at the location and soon after he attacked two people, a man and a woman, who have suffered very serious injuries. Whilst serious, thankfully these are not life threatening.'
Police have stepped up patrols in Manchester today in the wake of the terror attack
Forensics experts have been working at the scene of the attack as part of the investigation
Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: 'Last night we experienced a horrific attack on people out to simply enjoy the New Year's Eve celebrations in Manchester. My thoughts are with the couple who are still being treated in hospital for their serious injuries and with the brave British Transport Police officer who was also stabbed during the attack.
'I know that the events last night will have affected many people and caused concern. That the incident happened so close to the scene of the terrorist attack on 22 May 2017 makes it even more dreadful. Let me give you the details of what happened last night.
'Just before 9pm the British Transport Police officers at Victoria Train Station responded to a man armed with a knife and swiftly detained him. The officers acted with incredible bravery in tackling the armed attacker at the busy Metrolink station and ensured he was immediately detained. He remains in custody here in Manchester.
'We are treating this as a terrorist investigation which is being led by counter terrorism officers with support from Greater Manchester Police. They were working throughout the night to piece together the details of what happened and to identify the man who was arrested.
'This detailed work will continue and we are currently searching an address in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester which is believed to be where the man had most recently been living. Our work will continue to ensure we get to the full facts of what happened and why it took place.'
The station where the attack unfolded is next to Manchester Arena, where suicide bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people on May 22. The area was reopened after a cordon was lifted this morning.
Witness Sam Clack, who came within touching distance of the attacker, said he heard the man shout 'Allah' as he launched the attack.
Mr Clack, a BBC producer, was on a platform at Manchester Victoria railway station waiting for a tram home when he witnessed the attack.
The 38-year-old said: 'I just heard this most blood-curdling scream and looked down the platform. What it looked like was a guy in his 60s with a woman of similar age and another guy all dressed in black.
'It looked like they were having a fight but she was screaming in this blood curdling way. I saw police in high-vis come towards him.
'He came towards me. I looked down and saw he had a kitchen knife with a black handle with a good, 12-inch blade. It was just fear, pure fear.'
Mr Clack said police officers used a Taser and pepper spray before 'six or seven' officers jumped on the man and held him down.
He said he heard the suspect saying: 'As long as you keep bombing other countries this sort of s*** is going to keep happening.'
Mr Clack said it looked like both the man in his 60s and the woman with him had been stabbed, but both were conscious and were walked to a waiting ambulance.
He said he also heard the knifeman shouting 'Allah' before and during the attack.
Police appeared 'within seconds' and the knifeman backed down the platform towards where Mr Clack was standing alone.
A close-up of a police officer at the scene shows the suspect's knife lying on the ground
A discharged taser pictured on the platform alongside police restrained the suspect on Friday evening
Mr Clack described how he feared the man would attack him.
'I just had a feeling in the pit of my stomach,' he said. 'Here's a man who's very agitated, angry, skittish. It appears he had already attacked someone. He had police coming
