'Screams', then two people are fatally stabbed at 5am

Residents have described how they heard screams before two people were stabbed to death in Moss Side. The pair suffered fatal stab wounds shortly before 5am on Sunday.

As police to continue to interview, a 23-year-old arrested on suspicion of double murder, residents on Great Southern Street described their shock.

One said 'screams' were heard moments before the fatal stabbings. As police began to lift the cordon, a nurse told the Manchester Evening News nothing was thought of it at the time until residents woke later in the morning to find police everywhere.

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She said that after dark the area was plagued by 'drunk kids' roaming the streets. "It's mad. Two nights before somebody broke into my car and stole everything in it," she said.

Another said the area was 'not a safe place'. A third described the incident as 'horrible'.

Another resident, however, insisted it was safe, saying: "It's just normal and very quiet around her, no trouble or any rowdiness."

Greater Manchester Police have said one of the victims and the alleged attacker were 'known to each other'. It is understood the stabbings are not being treated as gang-related by detectives.

On Monday, two police tents about 50 metres apart on Great Southern Street - believed to be the spots where each stabbing took place - were taken down as the police cordon was taken down.

The stabbings happened close to Al-Furqan mosque also on Great Southern Street.

Police confirmed on Sunday night the the suspect was now being held under the Mental Health Act.

Chief Superintendent David Meeney, district commander for the City of Manchester division, said in an update on Sunday: “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 our 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.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting log number 553 of 17/11/24.