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Man pleads guilty to New Year's Eve knife attack in Manchester Man pleads guilty to New Year's Eve knife attack in Manchester
(about 2 hours later)
Mahdi Mohamud admits terrorism offence and three counts of attempted murderMahdi Mohamud admits terrorism offence and three counts of attempted murder
A man who stabbed three people at Manchester’s Victoria train station on New Year’s Eve has admitted to attempted murder.A man who stabbed three people at Manchester’s Victoria train station on New Year’s Eve has admitted to attempted murder.
Mahdi Mohamud, 26, launched the attack on a couple in their 50s – whose injuries included a fractured skull and a punctured lung – and a police officer, Sgt Lee Valentine.Mahdi Mohamud, 26, launched the attack on a couple in their 50s – whose injuries included a fractured skull and a punctured lung – and a police officer, Sgt Lee Valentine.
The defendant, who had lived in the Cheetham Hill area of the city, stabbed James Knox repeatedly in the back, shoulders and head with a fillet knife, while shouting Islamist slogans. The defendant, who had lived in the Cheetham Hill area of the city, ran behind James Knox before repeatedly stabbing him in the back, shoulders and head with a fillet knife, while shouting Islamist slogans.
He also slashed Knox’s partner, Anna Charlton, across the face as they headed toward a tram platform at about 9pm on 31 December 2018. He also slashed Knox’s partner, Anna Charlton, across the face as they headed towards a tram platform at about 9pm on 31 December 2018.
Mohamud was confronted by two British Transport Police officers and tram staff after they heard screaming. He was tasered by Valentine, 31, but the barbs of the 50,000-volt stun-gun became tangled in his thick coat and failed to paralyse him. Mohamud was confronted by two British Transport police officers and tram staff after they heard screaming. He was Tasered by Valentine, 31, but the barbs of the 50,000-volt stun gun became tangled in his thick coat and failed to paralyse him.
The defendant began charging at police on the platform before he stabbed Valentine in the shoulder. A second kitchen knife was found in his waistband as he was wrestled to the ground and arrested by officers. Another knife was later found in the sleeve of his coat. The defendant began charging at police on the platform before he stabbed Valentine in the shoulder. A second kitchen knife was later found concealed in the defendant’s coat as he was led to a police van.
He pleaded guilty at Manchester crown court on Tuesday to three counts of attempted murder and to possessing a document or record likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing for an act of terrorism.He pleaded guilty at Manchester crown court on Tuesday to three counts of attempted murder and to possessing a document or record likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing for an act of terrorism.
He is said to have become radicalised online, accessing extremist materials including on how to “aid jihad” and “the most lethal ways to strike with a knife”. He is said to have become radicalised online, accessing extremist materials including how to “aid jihad” and “the seven most lethal ways to strike with a knife”. He also downloaded speeches by Anwar al-Awlaki, a US-born Islamist hate preacher who was killed in a drone strike in 2011 in Yemen.
Mohamud, a Dutch national from a Somali family, had moved to the UK with his family aged nine. Between 2012 and 2013, he studied mechanical engineering at the University of Leeds. In 2015, he experienced mental health issues that led to him being admitted as an inpatient and being diagnosed with drug-induced psychosis. Detectives from Greater Manchester police believe Mohamud, a Dutch national, began planning for the attack towards the end of 2017, when he visited family in Somalia.
In video footage from police officers’ body-worn cameras, he can be heard repeatedly saying “this is for Allah” and “these attacks will never stop”.
He also told one officer: “Keep bombing Muslim countries, we’ll see what happens.” As footage of the incident was shown in court, the defendant held his hands to his ears inside the dock.
Mohamud moved to the UK with his family aged nine. Between 2012 and 2013, he studied mechanical engineering at the University of Leeds but did not finish his degree.
In 2015, he experienced mental health issues that led to him being admitted as an inpatient and being diagnosed with drug-induced psychosis.
At the time of the attack, he was not subject to a care plan by mental health services, and had no criminal record.
Although he was detained under the Mental Health Act the day after the attack, he was later found fit to stand trial.Although he was detained under the Mental Health Act the day after the attack, he was later found fit to stand trial.
A group of the defendant’s friends told Greater Manchester police he had joined in with a Fifa computer game tournament on Christmas Day, during which he had “laughed and joked” with them and “seemed completely normal”.A group of the defendant’s friends told Greater Manchester police he had joined in with a Fifa computer game tournament on Christmas Day, during which he had “laughed and joked” with them and “seemed completely normal”.
Mohamud will be sentenced later.Mohamud will be sentenced later.