Officer helps to arrest man despite multiple stab wounds

A police officer stabbed in a mosque by a man brandishing a large combat knife has been praised for his “heroic” actions as he helped arrest the knifeman despite his injuries.

The unnamed West Midlands Police officer is being treated in hospital for chest and stomach injuries after the attack at the mosque in the Ward End area of Birmingham on Saturday night.

Three others were injured and a 32-year-old man, who police say is a local man believed to be of Somalian descent, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Unarmed officers were called to reports that a man armed with a knife had stabbed other worshippers in the mosque and arrived four minutes later.

As the attacker came at police with the knife inside the mosque, the officer fired a Taser which hit the knifeman, but it had no effect.

Chief Superintendent Alex Murray thanked officers and those who helped inside the mosque for their “heroic” actions.