Second Man Arrested in Manchester Mosque Incident

A second man has been arrested in connection with an incident at Manchester Central Mosque where two individuals entered the premises carrying weapons during evening Ramadan prayers. The event occurred on Tuesday, February 24, at the mosque on Upper Park Road in Victoria Park, Manchester, as around 1,500 worshippers gathered for the holy month observances.

Greater Manchester Police responded to reports of the men entering the building shortly after 8:30 p.m. Mosque volunteers noticed a suspicious bag carried by one of the men, who was wearing a high-visibility jacket, and escorted him to a separate office. A search revealed an axe, a hammer, a knife, and class B drugs in his possession. The man, described as white and in his 40s, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and drugs. No one was injured, and the second man had already left the premises by the time officers arrived.

On Thursday, police arrested a second suspect, a man in his 20s, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a section 18 assault, a charge involving grievous bodily harm with intent. He was taken into custody for questioning. The first suspect remains in detention, with a warrant...