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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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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 20 hours later) | |
| Mahdi Mohamud admits terrorism offence and three counts of attempted murder | Mahdi 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, ran behind James Knox before repeatedly stabbing him 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 towards 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 probes of the 50,000-volt stun gun became tangled in his thick puffer 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 later found concealed in the defendant’s coat as he was led to a police van. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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”. | 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. | 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. | |
| Since 2015, the defendant has experienced several inpatient stays in hospitals in both the UK and Somalia as a result of his mental health issues. | |
| At the time of the attack, he was not subject to a care plan by mental health services, and had no criminal record. | 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. |
| In a victim impact statement which was read to the court, Valentine said he had diagnosed with trauma-related stress as a result of the incident. His partner, a police officer who witnessed both the attacks on Knox and Charlton and on Valentine, had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. | |
| Mohamud will be sentenced later. | Mohamud will be sentenced later. |