Man arrested after Bolton café stabbing, police link prior knife incident nearby
A man has been arrested after a stabbing inside a café in Bolton, where a diner fought back and helped restrain the attacker. Police said a second stabbing nearby minutes earlier is believed to be linked. Both victims sustained minor injuries.
UNITED KINGDOM: A man in his 50s has been arrested following a stabbing inside a café in Bolton, Greater Manchester, with police treating the incident as part of a linked sequence of attacks.
According to Greater Manchester Police, officers were called to the scene at around 10:30 a.m. on 21 April after reports of two men suffering stab wounds.
Both victims were treated at the scene and their injuries were described as minor.
Diner intervenes to restrain attacker
According to The Sun, the suspect entered a café along Tonge Moor Road and approached a diner before carrying out the attack.
Footage circulating online shows the diner reacting immediately after being stabbed, confronting and attempting to restrain the attacker.
During the struggle, a café employee assisted by gripping the suspect’s arm, allowing the weapon to be removed. The altercation caused damage to part of the café’s interior.
The suspect was prevented from leaving the premises until the situation was brought under control.
Earlier incident believed to be linked
According to the New York Post, police said the suspect had earlier left another property with a knife and allegedly attacked a second individual along Tonge Moor shortly before entering the café.
Investigators believe the two incidents occurred within minutes of each other and are linked.
Police said neither of the victims was known to the suspect.
Café praises customer for intervention
In a statement shared on social media, the café, The Deli, said the incident had “spilled into” its premises and confirmed that both staff and customers were safe.
The business thanked the customer who intervened, saying his actions helped protect others during the incident.
“If it wasn’t for him, it could have been a whole different situation,” the café added in a follow-up comment.
The café also announced it would close temporarily following the disruption.
Police say no wider threat to public
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Sharples said officers are continuing enquiries as part of an ongoing investigation.
“We fully appreciate that the local community will be concerned but I would like to reassure them that there is no wider threat, and that this is being treated as an isolated incident,” he said.
Police have increased patrols in the area and urged members of the public with concerns to speak to officers.
