Marks & Spencer stabbing: Two injured, suspect arrested in Burnley

Anti-terror police were today called in after a man stabbed a Marks & Spencer worker and a shopper just hours after all ‘non-essential’ stores reopened in England.  

A 57-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following the attack in Burnley at around 9.30am and remains in custody, Lancashire Police said. 

The two women, a Marks & Spencer employee in her 40s and a shopper in her 60s, were rushed to hospital with serious knife injuries which are not thought to be life threatening. 

Officers said the stabbing was not being treated as a terrorist incident, although counter-terror detectives were leading the investigation due to comments made at the scene. 

A force spokesperson also praised members of the public who detained the suspect at the scene for their ‘brave actions’.   

The knife attack came as shoppers flocked back to the High Street after the national coronavirus lockdown was lifted and all shops reopened on ‘Wild Wednesday.’

Footage from the scene captured a man in a face mask being detained by officers outside the Marks & Spencer store this morning.   

Witnesses claimed one of the women was stabbed in the neck during the attack, but this has not yet been confirmed.  

Lancashire Police said a knife was recovered from the scene following what is believed to be an ‘isolated incident.’

Superintendent Stasia Osiowy, of Lancashire Police, today thanked passersby who ‘acted very quickly this morning in order to detain the attacker’.

She added: ‘Without their brave actions this incident, while serious, could have been so much worse.

‘At this time we are keeping an open mind as to motivation but what I can say is that we are considering the mental health background of the man we have arrested.’ 

An M&S spokesperson said: ‘We are incredibly grateful for the emergency services that responded to this incident and our M&S colleague and the member of the public who were injured are now in good care. 

‘We are also supporting the police with their investigation. The store is currently closed and our focus is on ensuring that our colleagues in Burnley receive all the support they need.’ 

One man on social media claimed to be a relative of the alleged attacker, and said the suspect has struggled with mental health issues for at least 10 years.

He added ‘[the suspect] may have relapsed or stopped taking his medication’, while others claimed the man had been ‘ignored and neglected’ by authorities ‘for a long time.’   

Carl Stredder, who was shopping in Burnley with his wife, said he heard shouting coming from inside Marks & Spencer when he stopped to withdraw cash nearby.

He described seeing a man ‘holding down’ another before police and paramedics swarmed the scene.   

‘Within a couple of minutes, the police had arrived. There were six or seven police cars, sirens all over the place,’ he told the BBC.

‘Then within another five or so minutes, an ambulance came. It was apparent by then that some sort of major incident had occurred.’ 

Tracy Bond, 45, who works nearby, told the Sun: ‘I saw the police arrive and the man being arrested.

‘This was about 9.30am. He was just stood outside the shop with the police around him. Then they took him away in the van.’ 

A security guard said: ‘It’s such a shame it’s happened today as everything is open again and people want to do their shopping, especially as it’s getting nearer to Christmas.’ 

A cordon remained in place in Burnley this afternoon and video from the scene shows a crowd of onlookers gathering near the Charter Walk Shopping Centre.  

Lancashire Police and the North West Ambulance Service raced to the store near St James’ Street following reports of the double stabbing.    

A force spokesman said: ‘We were called at about 9.30am today to a report of a stabbing inside the Marks and Spencer store in Burnley.

‘Two women received injuries which are thankfully not thought to be life threatening at this time. They have been taken to hospital for treatment.

‘Police officers were quickly on the scene and a 57-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is currently in custody.

‘A knife has been recovered.

‘Police enquiries are ongoing but at this stage this is believed to be an isolated incident.

‘Patrols will remain in the area as reassurance through the day. Anyone with information or concerns can approach an officer.’

The force added: ‘We would kindly ask that you don’t speculate about the motivation behind the incident.

‘This will form part of our enquiries and we will continue to update you as and when we are able.’

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting log 0313 of December 2. 

A spokesman for North West Ambulance Service added: ‘We were called to scene at 09:23. We sent two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and an advanced paramedic. 

‘We took two female patients with serious knife injuries to hospital.’

It comes as eager Christmas shoppers in England were able to hit the High Street for the first time in four weeks as the national lockdown restrictions were lifted. 

Today is being branded ‘Wild Wednesday’ because shops can stay open all night to claw back some of £900million-a-day economic hit caused by the Prime Minister’s controversial tier system.  

In Burnley, which is under the tightest Tier 3 rules, the town centre was busy with shoppers looking to visit non-essential shops for the first since since November 5.

However, Marks & Spencer had remained open as an essential business throughout England’s second Covid-19 lockdown. 

A spokeswoman for the retailer said: ‘We are incredibly grateful for the emergency services that responded to this incident and the two people who were injured are now in good care.

‘We are also supporting the police with their investigation.

‘The store is currently closed and our focus is on ensuring that our colleagues in Burnley receive all the support they need.’