A 55-year-old white British man has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon following an incident at Manchester Central Mosque during Ramadan prayers. Darren Connor is also accused of possession of class B drugs and has been remanded into custody.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that Connor will appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Friday. A second man arrested in connection with the incident will face no further action.
The mosque's chairman, Hamad Khan, stated that a man wearing a hi-vis jacket entered the mosque at approximately 8.30pm on Tuesday, when around 1,500 worshippers were praying. The suspect was escorted to an office after an axe was spotted in his bag, and police were called. Reports also suggest multiple weapons, including a hammer, were found.
