Muslim surgeon stabbed on his way to Manchester mosque

A Muslim man was stabbed from behind as he made his way to a mosque in the northern English city of Manchester on Sunday.

Nasser Kurdy, 58, a consultant surgeon, was attacked outside Altrincham and Hale Muslim Association where he is vice chairman, British media reported.

Greater Manchester police said in a statement they had arrested two men aged 54 and 32 in connection with the incident and that the men would remain in custody for questioning.

Phil Rosenberg, who is Public Affairs Director for the Board of Deputies of British Jews, voiced support for the Muslim community and called the assailants “terrorists.”

“Dr Kurdy and the whole community are in our thoughts and prayers,” Rosenberg said in a statement that noted he had worked with another member of the center of community relations in the past. “These terrorists may wish to sow division, but they only succeed in bringing us closer together.”

Police said they are treating the attack as a hate crime.

Video emerged of Kurdy shortly after the attack in which he was seen applying pressure to his neck, apparently to stem the bleeding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExrN1vTx21o

Reports said that Kurdy was on his way to the mosque when he saw a man cross the road and then felt an injury to the back of his neck. He ran into the center for assistance.

Community members said Kurdy heard anti-Muslim comments at the time of the attack.

“Obviously he was in shock at the time, he had just been stabbed, so the detail [sic] of those comments I don’t know – but there were definitely abusive comments made by the attackers at the door of the mosque,” a spokesman for the mosque said. “We understand it was a knife, he is very lucky.”

Police have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.