A 25-year-old knife-wielding man arrested during a New Year's Eve terror attack in Manchester is being detained under the Mental Health Act after an assessment by medical experts, police said on Wednesday.
The man stabbed three people - including a police officer - at Manchester Victoria station before being arrested on Monday night.
Greater Manchester Police said the counter-terrorism investigation launched in the wake of the attack on Monday night remains ongoing, including a search of a property associated with the suspect in north Manchester.
"The 25-year-old man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and detained last night (Tuesday night) under the Mental Health Act is now in a secure mental facility," it said in an update statement on Wednesday.
"The investigation has moved at a very fast pace and detectives are increasingly confident that the man acted alone in the final stages of the attack. The investigation will continue and will examine is anybody may have encouraged or assisted the man to commit the attack," the statement said.
The police force said that its investigation will continue in the coming months, during which it will remain in contact with mental health experts and the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to determine any criminal charges in the case.
Footage of the aftermath of the attack showed a man being held down by five police officers, with blood stains on the pavement. Other footage showed the suspect shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) as he was put in the back of a police van and he was also heard screaming "Long live the Caliphate."
A couple in their 50s were seriously injured in what was described by eyewitnesses as a "frenzied" and "random" attack on a platform at Manchester Victoria Metrolink tram station. The woman suffered injuries to her face and stomach, while the man has injuries to his stomach.
The police said that they were being supported by specialist officers. The man has made good recovery and is expected to be discharged from hospital in a few days but the woman is likely to remain hospitalised longer.
A police sergeant, named as Lee Valentine in his 30s, was also wounded as he and three other British Transport Police officers rushed to the scene. He sustained shoulder injuries but has since been discharged from hospital.
"We had no idea what we were running towards when we heard the screams on New Year's Eve," Sgt Valentine said.
"When we saw the man wielding a knife, instinct took over and we were able to... successfully detain the male," he said.
Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham said the attack had been deliberately staged close to the site of the Manchester Arena bombing, which killed 22 people in May 2017 during an Ariana Grande concert.
"This attack has brought back some very painful memories for everyone involved, particularly given how close it was to the Manchester Arena, which appears to have been deliberate," Burnham said.
"But the city is strong, united and resilient and the way the incident was dealt with by the emergency services and others was exemplary," he said.
Security and emergency officers have been praised for their "fearless" response in containing the attacker with pepper spray and Taser guns. Police recovered two knives at the scene, but do not yet know if both were used.
The suspect was initially arrested on attempted murder charges as Greater Manchester Police declared the stabbings a "critical incident".
As Counter Terrorism Police North West took charge of the investigation, the force declared that it was treating the incident as terror related.
A home in Cheetham Hill area of north Manchester thought to be the suspect's last known address is being searched by counter-terrorism police.
Neighbours have suggested the suspect is of Somali-origin and was thought to have lived in the Netherlands before moving to the UK around 10 to 15 years ago.
The family of the suspect, who remains in a mental health facility, have said their "thoughts and prayers" are with the three victims.
In a statement through solicitors, they said they were "eternally grateful for the swift response from the emergency services".
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