Manchester stands on the eve of its busiest shopping season, but after the past fortnight, a cloud hangs over the city centre. Police stormed and surrounded the Manchester Arndale on three occasions in 11 days, following three knife-related incidents that Greater Manchester Police does not believe to be linked to one another.
With the city's streets and shopping centres set to become ever busier in the weeks before Christmas, some shoppers told the Manchester Evening News they feel 'nervous'.
Three Incidents in 11 Days
The incidents began with a 14-year-old boy stabbed on the ninth level of the multi-storey car park on Saturday, October 17. Witnesses reported seeing several people run from the shopping centre to the car park moments before the attack. Armed officers were soon in attendance on High Street, Withy Grove and Dantzic Street close to the Arndale, while shoppers' cars were kept inside a cordon for hours in the multi-storey.
Quick-thinking passers-by were praised by Greater Manchester Police for saving the young victim from life-threatening injuries. Two 14-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and later released on bail.
Exactly one week later, officers returned to the bustling shopping district. Officers were called out to reports of an assault near to the Boots store. Arndale security staff were later seen intervening near to the Lloyds Bank counter in the shopping centre. Two men, aged 18 and 19, were later arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of a bladed article. The 18-year-old was released on bail.
Marcel Forsyth, 19, of Gawsworth Close, Shaw, has since been charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place and assault on an emergency worker. Forsyth pleaded guilty to possession of the bladed article and not guilty to the assault charge at Manchester Magistrates' Court last Monday. He was given conditional bail ahead of his next hearing on March 30, 2027.
Third Incident and Public Reaction
Last Tuesday evening, October 27, officers swarmed the Arndale for a third time. A 13-year-old boy was stabbed on Withy Grove outside the shopping centre, before those involved entered the shopping centre. A cordon was seen outside the lifts and toilets, close to Roller's café. A 13-year-old boy was taken to hospital from the scene with knife wounds.
Three boys - aged 14, 15 and 16 - were arrested on suspicion of affray. Another boy, aged 13, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article. Three of the teenagers were bailed while the fourth remained in hospital as of GMP's latest update.
After the third incident, traders told the M.E.N. it was business as usual as far as they were concerned. One shopkeeper inside the Arndale said: "We've been here a long time and not had any issues." On Withy Grove, opposite the Arndale, one trader described regularly hearing emergency services sirens but rarely seeing trouble himself. A third shopkeeper, on High Street, added: "I know there have been a few incidents around the centre, but we've not had any outside our shop. I think it's OK around here."
Yet among shoppers and visitors to the city centre, the situation was more concerning. Arlene McGougan, from Denton, said she worries about the growing number of teenage boys carrying weapons. "It's really concerning - it makes you not want to go out," the 43-year-old said. "I don't really feel safe at all at night in these kinds of spaces. I wouldn't go walking around, I'd go in my car. It's best to stick to a crowd, I wouldn't go anywhere on my own."
When asked if she feels intimidated by teenagers potentially carrying knives, she said: "Definitely to an extent. It's a shame they can't be broken up and come out in smaller groups. We were all young once but I definitely wasn't as naughty as that." She added: "Enough probably isn't being done, but I don't know what can be done to stop getting them into trouble. There's only so much you can do and I think that's where the problem is. There needs to be a deterrent."
Holly Martin, 19, said she feels anyone 'could just pull out a knife'. The Rochdale teenager said: "I feel nervous to come out because you don't know if the security are actually aware of people that could be harming others. I don't think enough is being done, I don't think there's enough for young people to do, so they just become violent."
Fariha Aziz, 22, a student living in Manchester, said she felt scared following the attacks. She said: "It's already happened, and as an international student I don't have any family here, so it's even more scary. Especially as someone who works in the evenings, it's very unnerving at night. It seems so easy to stab someone in the busy areas because there's always someone around. Truly I feel very scared, because the stabbings seem to be amongst people all my age and I hope the security can become more trained to handle these situations in the city centre. I do think a lot is being done to try and help it though."
Harry Griffiths, who was visiting the city centre from South Wales, suggested that 'gang content is glorified online'. He feared that some youngsters see carrying a knife as 'a cool thing to do when it's really not'. The 27-year-old added: "It wasn't like this when I was younger. It's hard to put it all into one box as to what must push young boys to do this - you just don't know what they're looking at."
But not everyone shared those concerns. One shopper, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I feel safe. Maybe it's because it's the day and I wouldn't say the same at night, but I feel safe to walk around without being in fear."
Official Response and Statistics
Manchester's deputy council leader told the M.E.N. that Mancunians must not live in fear, insisting that those who carried out the offences 'do not represent our city'. Coun Thomas Robinson said: "We know this was a shocking incident and our most sincere thoughts and best wishes are with the young victim. We will not allow this to go unanswered. The council, GMP and all our partners are in constant contact and will continue to operate with vigilance over the coming days. The people who committed these crimes do not represent our city, and the operation to bring them to justice will be conducted with urgency. Mancunians should not and will not be allowed to live in fear. I would urge anyone with information about this incident to contact the Police, or anonymously via Crimestoppers."
Multiple GMP officers were seen patrolling the Arndale shopping centre, the multi-storey car park and the surrounding streets when the M.E.N. spoke to traders last Thursday evening (October 29). Authorities in the city have vowed to do what they can to keep people safe.
Although recent incidents have brought knife crime back in the spotlight, GMP says that in the past 12 months, the City of Manchester has seen a 17 per cent decrease in knife related incidents and a 20 per cent reduction in offences being committed against people under the age of 18. In the city centre, more than 10,300 stop searches have led to over 980 arrests, with 53 knives seized.
Superintendent Simon Nasim, from GMP's City of Manchester team, previously said: "We are aware of the other incidents in the city centre of this nature, but at this stage they are not thought to be linked. Our communities should not be in fear of harm, and our priority is taking effective action with partners against those involved in anti-social behaviour and criminality. Knife crime is understandably a concern amongst our communities, and we have dedicated teams who will be deployed across the city centre to hotspot areas to strengthen our response to violent crime, and provide a reassuring message to our public. We will not tolerate hate and violence in Greater Manchester, and we will take effective action against those who are causing harm to our vulnerable and young communities. But we cannot tackle it alone. We rely on the cooperation of the public, to report anything that looks suspicious or any incidents to us, and we will be sure to act on it."
While the three knife incidents are understood to have taken place just outside the Arndale shopping centre premises - at the car park, Withy Grove and outside Boots - victims went on to seek refuge inside the shopping centre. Arndale security staff were also involved in the incidents, while the October 24 arrest took place inside the shopping centre and a cordon was seen there last Tuesday.
A spokesperson for Manchester Arndale said: "We are aware of the recent incidents which have taken place in Manchester city centre. The safety and security of our visitors is our number one priority and we have well-rehearsed and flexible security plans in place, as well as a close relationship with GMP who we are supporting with their enquiries. As these incidents took place outside our premises and are under investigation, we are unable to comment any further." GMP has been approached for an update.
