Police arrest second suspect in relation to incident at Manchester Central Mosque
A man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a section 18 assault, and remains in police custody for questioning
Last updated 26th Feb 2026
Greater Manchester Police have arrested a second suspect in relation to an incident at Manchester Central Mosque on Tuesday evening (24 February).
Police were called to the Mosque, during prayer, after a man allegedly carrying a bag containing an axe entered the building.
The first suspect, a man in his 50s, who was arrested at the mosque during the initial police attendance, remains in custody.
A warrant of further detention has been obtained to allow detectives additional time to continue their investigation and conduct further interviews with this man.
Now, a man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a section 18 assault, and he remains in police custody for questioning.
There is no intelligence to suggest that this incident poses a wider threat to the community, and officers are not looking for any further suspects in relation to this.
Assistant Chief Constable John Webster said: “Our investigation has been working at pace, leading to us making an arrest for the outstanding man this morning. Detectives will be conducting interviews with him today.
“We continue to take this incident seriously and have been granted extra time by the courts to question the first man, so we can thoroughly explore all possible lines of enquiry into the circumstances.
“We know this has been a concerning time for many of our communities, and we remain committed to acting on any concerns reported to us. You can do this by contacting us on 101 or via the LiveChat function on the GMP website.
"Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.”