Suspect and victim in Moss Side double stabbing 'known to each other'

A suspect and one of the victims in the Moss Side double stabbing were 'known to each other', detectives said.

Two men were fatally knifed on Great Southern Street in Moss Side, in the early hours of Sunday morning (November 17). Greater Manchester Police said a 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

In an update this evening, the force said that the suspect and one of the two men who died were 'known to each other'. In a statement tonight, a spokesperson said: "We currently have one 23-year-old man in our custody arrested on suspicion of murder.

READ MORE: Community in shock after 'scary' double stabbing which killed two men

"He remains in custody for questioning, and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. Through initial enquiries, we believe that the suspect and one of the victims were known to each another."

Emergency services were called out to the scene at 5am, but tragically the pair couldn't be saved. Chief Superintendent Dave Meeney said that he understood the 'shockwaves' the incident had sent in Moss Side, but moved to reassure the community that the incident was 'isolated'.

He said: "This morning, two lives have been lost in our community, and our thoughts go to their families who have lost a loved one today. We are treating this as an isolated incident with no threat to the wider public.

"We have launched a murder investigation, and detectives from our Major Incident Team continue to work diligently conducting CCTV trawls and speaking to witnesses to find out what has happened to the victims. We swiftly made an arrest this morning and we are not looking for anyone else in relation to this.

“We understand the shockwaves that this devastating news will have caused in the local community and further afield across Greater Manchester. We have placed a number of local neighbourhood officers in the area to conduct visible patrols to reassure the community.

"If you have any concerns, please speak to them, they are there to lend a listening ear. I’d like to thank the local community who have all really pulled together and cooperated with our enquiries.

“We also understand that our cordon may prevent people from going about their daily lives, officers are working hard to ensure that the community can return to normality as swiftly as possible. If you have any information that may be able to assist out enquiries, please get in touch with our officers.

"Please don’t assume that we know already, any small piece of information may be vital for our Major Incident Team detectives to find out what happened this morning. We thank the public for their cooperation and patience as there is a cordon in place on Great Southern Street and into the surrounding area.

"We are asking the public to continue avoiding the area as there is a large emergency service presence while we establish the full circumstances of the incident this morning.”

Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Fire, said: "I offer my deepest sympathies to the families of the victims of the stabbings on Great Southern Street, Moss Side, this morning. I would also like to thank the front-line staff from Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service who were at the scene, and repeat GMP’s assurances that this is being treated as an isolated incident and is not an ongoing threat.

"GMP have taken swift action and currently have a man in custody suspected to be responsible for the attack. They are not currently looking for anyone else in connection to the incident.

"I want to reassure the community who will inevitably be shocked and concerned by the attack this morning, that GMP have increased visibility and are working hard with partners to ensure residents in Greater Manchester are safe now, and in the future.

"If anyone has any information that might assist GMP with their enquiries please contact them on 101." Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 553 of 17/11/24.