Victoria terror accused had knife manual

12 June 2019, 14:22 | Updated: 12 June 2019, 14:24

A terror suspect accused of attempted murder after a stabbing in Manchester on New Year's Eve had a manual of "lethal ways to strike with a knife", a court heard.

Mahdi Mohamud, 25, was arrested after a couple in their 50s were stabbed several times at the city's Victoria railway station at around 9pm on December 31.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with three counts of attempted murder and an offence alleging possession of a "document or record likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".

The court was told the terror charge was linked to a document entitled "the seven most lethal ways to strike with a knife".

Anna Charlton and James Knox were knifed as they entered the Metrolink area of the station.

Mr Knox suffered 13 injuries including a skull fracture, the court heard.

Ms Charlton's right lung was punctured and she suffered a forehead injury "down to the bone", the court was also told.

British Transport Police (BTP) Sergeant Lee Valentine was also stabbed in the shoulder as he responded to the incident.

He was wearing five layers of clothing which prevented a serious injury.

Sgt Valentine and three other BTP officers were the first on the scene before pepper spray and Tasers were used to detain the suspect.

Prime Minister Theresa May later joined the BTP in commending emergency services after the incident at the station next to the Manchester Arena, where suicide bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people on May 22 2017.

Mohamud, of Cheetham Hill, Manchester, appeared by video link and spoke to confirm his name, address, date of birth and Dutch nationality.

His solicitor, Nasir Hafezi, told the court no pleas would be indicated.

Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot remanded Mohamud in custody ahead of a hearing at Oxford Crown Court on June 21.