Three knife-related incidents bring police to Manchester Arndale in 11 days
Police attended three knife-related incidents at Manchester Arndale in 11 days, with two boys stabbed. GMP does not believe they are linked.
Three knife-related incidents brought police to Manchester Arndale over 11 days, with two boys stabbed and shoppers caught behind cordons. Greater Manchester Police does not believe the incidents are connected.
The latest stabbing happened on Withy Grove on Tuesday 27 October. A 13-year-old boy suffered knife wounds and was taken to hospital. Those involved then went inside the shopping centre.
Officers cordoned off an area near the lifts and toilets by Roller’s café. Three boys aged 14, 15 and 16 were arrested on suspicion of affray. A fourth boy, aged 13, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article. At GMP’s latest update, three had been bailed and one remained in hospital.
Car park stabbing and assault report
The first incident was on Saturday 17 October, when a 14-year-old boy was stabbed on level nine of the multi-storey car park. Witnesses described people running towards the car park from the shopping centre shortly beforehand.
Armed officers attended surrounding streets. Shoppers were unable to retrieve their cars for hours because of a cordon. GMP credited passers-by with saving the boy from life-threatening injuries. Two boys, both 14, were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and subsequently bailed.
On Saturday 24 October, police responded to an alleged assault near Boots. Security staff were seen intervening near the Lloyds Bank counter.
Two men, aged 18 and 19, were arrested on suspicion of affray and possessing a bladed article. The younger man was bailed. The other man was charged with possessing a bladed article in public and assaulting an emergency worker.
At Manchester Magistrates’ Court, he admitted the possession charge but denied assault. He received conditional bail until his next hearing on Tuesday 30 March 2027.
After the third incident, traders were continuing business as usual. Some shoppers, however, said they felt ‘nervous’. One visitor said concerns about teenagers carrying weapons made her reluctant to go out.
