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| Man held as four stabbed at mosque in Birmingham | Man held as four stabbed at mosque in Birmingham |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after four people, including a policeman, were stabbed at a mosque in Birmingham. | A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after four people, including a policeman, were stabbed at a mosque in Birmingham. |
| Officers were called to the mosque on Washwood Heath Road in Ward End at about 23:00 BST on Saturday. | Officers were called to the mosque on Washwood Heath Road in Ward End at about 23:00 BST on Saturday. |
| West Midlands Police said three men were found with stab injuries. | West Midlands Police said three men were found with stab injuries. |
| The officer was wounded as police arrested the 32-year-old man who has since been taken to a secure mental health unit. | |
| A police spokesman said: "The suspect was assessed by mental health expert and was deemed unfit to be interviewed. | |
| "The man will be constantly assessed by medics who will alert detectives as soon as he is deemed well enough to undergo questioning." | |
| Taser fired | |
| The officer, aged 31, and a 28-year-old man suffered multiple stab wounds while a 36-year-old man sustained a single stab wound to his leg. All three were taken to hospital. | The officer, aged 31, and a 28-year-old man suffered multiple stab wounds while a 36-year-old man sustained a single stab wound to his leg. All three were taken to hospital. |
| Another victim is recovering at home after injuring his hand. | Another victim is recovering at home after injuring his hand. |
| The incident began during the final prayer session of the evening. | The incident began during the final prayer session of the evening. |
| Ch Supt Alex Murray said the man they arrested was of Somalian descent and that a "sizeable knife" had been used in the attack. | Ch Supt Alex Murray said the man they arrested was of Somalian descent and that a "sizeable knife" had been used in the attack. |
| Mr Murray said officers arrived at the mosque within four minutes of reports of the stabbings. | Mr Murray said officers arrived at the mosque within four minutes of reports of the stabbings. |
| The suspect was found in a room in the mosque but when challenged he ran at one of the two police officers. | The suspect was found in a room in the mosque but when challenged he ran at one of the two police officers. |
| The officer, who suffered chest and stomach injuries, fired a Taser at the knifeman but it did not halt him, Mr Murray said. | The officer, who suffered chest and stomach injuries, fired a Taser at the knifeman but it did not halt him, Mr Murray said. |
| "The individual was worshipping but not known to the mosque," he added, before thanking and reassuring the local community. | "The individual was worshipping but not known to the mosque," he added, before thanking and reassuring the local community. |
| Domestic dispute | Domestic dispute |
| Dr Arshad Mahmood, who was at the mosque, said: "A man started stabbing one of the guys who was just sitting right next to him. | Dr Arshad Mahmood, who was at the mosque, said: "A man started stabbing one of the guys who was just sitting right next to him. |
| "I don't know what exactly was the reason but he just started stabbing him. | "I don't know what exactly was the reason but he just started stabbing him. |
| "We went to save him. He had multiple injuries, three or four wounds. | "We went to save him. He had multiple injuries, three or four wounds. |
| "Then the policeman came and was also attacked and stabbed." | "Then the policeman came and was also attacked and stabbed." |
| Mohammed Shafiq, the leader of national Muslim organisation the Ramadhan Foundation, said his thoughts were with the injured and their families. | Mohammed Shafiq, the leader of national Muslim organisation the Ramadhan Foundation, said his thoughts were with the injured and their families. |
| "I have spoken to someone who lives a few doors down from the mosque and they described hearing an argument between some of the people inside. | "I have spoken to someone who lives a few doors down from the mosque and they described hearing an argument between some of the people inside. |
| "It escalated into violence and a police officer has been stabbed." | "It escalated into violence and a police officer has been stabbed." |
| According to Mr Shafiq, a nearby resident believed the dispute was a domestic incident between mosque members. | According to Mr Shafiq, a nearby resident believed the dispute was a domestic incident between mosque members. |
| 'Shocking' | 'Shocking' |
| The mosque involved is the Washwood Heath Muslim Centre in Ward End. | The mosque involved is the Washwood Heath Muslim Centre in Ward End. |
| The Birmingham Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne, who visited the scene, said: "Police and the community have been working together through the night and early this morning and what's very clear is that this is a sad, tragic and isolated incident. | The Birmingham Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne, who visited the scene, said: "Police and the community have been working together through the night and early this morning and what's very clear is that this is a sad, tragic and isolated incident. |
| "It's not a hate crime. | "It's not a hate crime. |
| "What's really important now is that everybody stays very calm and we let the wheels of justice turn." | "What's really important now is that everybody stays very calm and we let the wheels of justice turn." |
| Ansar Ali Khan, the city councillor for Washwood Heath, said people will have been attending the mosque for local prayers. | Ansar Ali Khan, the city councillor for Washwood Heath, said people will have been attending the mosque for local prayers. |
| "We've never had a problem, we always have a very peaceful situation in this area," he said. | "We've never had a problem, we always have a very peaceful situation in this area," he said. |
| "This is shocking for me to know the police officer has been stabbed as well." | "This is shocking for me to know the police officer has been stabbed as well." |