Police have released terrifying new bodycam footage showing heroic officers rushing straight into the path of a lone-wolf, knife-wielding terrorist who had just stabbed and slashed three people.
The clip from an officer's body-worn camera shows Mahdi Mohamud, 26, react with fury as police swarm around him on a platform at Manchester Victoria train station.
He waves his knife around, slashing the air and bouncing in frenzied movements before lunging at a police officer who pulls him down in an incredibly brave act, before colleagues restrain the violent attacker.
Mohamud had just carried out an attack which wounded three people last New Year's Eve.
He launched a sickening knife rampage on commuters and shouted "Allahu Akbar" and "Long live the Caliphate".
Three people, including Anna Charlton and James Knox, a couple in their 50s, were hurt after Mohamud slashed the fillet knife.
Mr Knox suffered 13 injuries, including a skull fracture. Ms Charlton's right lung was punctured and she suffered a slash to her forehead that cut down to the bone.
But today evil Mohamud was caged for a minimum of 11 years after admitting a terrorism offence and three counts of attempted murder .
In the harrowing new footage, the police officers are seen run across the station to confront Mohamud. The terrorist launches himself at one officer but is eventually detained after the team use Tasers.
Sentencing Mohamud at Manchester Crown Court today, Mr Justice Stuart-Smith said: "They had a clear terrorist connection.
"The terrorist connection is a serious aggravating feature.
"You had planned your attack carefully, as is shown by your planning document and your schedule, that acted as a sort of diary for your preparations.
"Your determination to play your part in worldwide jihad was also shown by the careful preparation and distribution of your ‘neurotechnology document’, which set out in detail your theories of government conspiracy and psychological manipulation; and by your conduct in downloading Jihadi material over the days, weeks and months before you carried out your attack."
Mohamud is to be detained at Ashworth High Security Hospital. The judge has passed a sentence under the Mental Health Act.
The Leeds University engineering graduate, who has since the attack been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, had planned the rampage carefully for some months.
He also stabbed British Transport Police Sergeant Lee Valentine, 31, in the shoulder as he was Tasered and pepper sprayed before being arrested.
A second kitchen knife was found in his waistband.
The defendant, a Dutch national from a Somali family, had arrived in the UK aged nine and became radicalised online, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.
Detained under the Mental Health Act the day after the attack, he was later found fit to stand trial.
He was pictured being pinned down by five police officers as they captured him, preventing him from continuing his rampage.
The incident at Victoria Station was just metres away from the Manchester Arena where 22 people were killed in a suicide bombing terror attack in May 2017.
Prosecutor Alison Morgan QC told the court that while Mohamud was mentally ill, the attack at Manchester Victoria ‘was intended to be a lethal attack, which had been carefully planned over a number of months’.
She told the court it ‘reflected the defendant’s extremist ideology and his desire to perform violent jihad’.
The judge was told he for many months prior to the attack had ‘created and meticulously revised’ a document which he sought to encourage others to receive and consider its contents.
He described it as a ‘‘Neurotechnology’ document’ that contained ‘an anti-government conspiracy theory’ and an ‘anti-West ideology,’ the court heard.
Detective Superintendent Will Chatterton, Head of Investigations for Counter Terrorism Policing North West, said: "This was a terrifying attack on one of the busiest days of the year and I know it will stay with the victims for the rest of their lives.
"I hope that they’re able to move forwards with their lives following today’s result.
"It doesn’t bear thinking about what could have happened had Mohamud used the larger knife that he was carrying in his coat pocket.
"The consequences could easily have been even worse.
"Mohamud’s violent actions continued throughout the evening as he continued to shout extremist comments and lashed out at officers as they attempted to escort him from the police van and into custody.
"They were forced to use leg restraints on him and he refused to cooperate during all of his interviews.
"Whilst in police custody, Mohamud was detained under the Mental Health Act and we have worked closely with medical specialists throughout the year.
"Following mental health assessments, he was deemed fit to stand trial for his actions.
"I’d like to thank the officers who were on the scene in a matter of seconds, bravely trying to detain Mohamud despite the taser and captor spray having no immediate effect on him.
"I have no doubt that their quick actions prevented more people from coming to harm."
Letter from Mohamud's dad
The father of Mohamud wrote a heartfelt letter to the judge who sentenced his son - saying his loved ones were left "very deeply saddened" over the attacks.
He said he felt a "terrible sense of guilt" that he had let his son down because he didn't do more to help him access the correct treatment.
The father also sent his family's thoughts and prayers to the injured - and praised the response of the emergency services.
"From the beginning when we first heard about this horrific incident, our prayers have and continue to be with those seriously injured, their families and friends," he wrote.
"We are also eternally grateful for the swift response from emergency services and the comfort given to those affected Mancunians and citizens."
Mohamud lived with his parents and siblings in Cheetham Hill.
He has three brothers and a sister. Both his parents are Somalian.
"If it wasn't for his serious mental health issues and breakdown, I am sure Mahdi would have continued to excel in work and as a human being," the letter went on.
"As a family we were all shocked by knowing what Mahdi had done. We as a family are so very deeply saddened by the events that have unfolded.
"I, like my family, have seen the shocking images on the news and read stories of brave officers.
"I am just glad this incident wasn't even worse, which it could so easily have been, if it wasn't for the intervention of police and transport officers.
"I believe that if it wasn't for Mahdi's mental health issues, he would not have done these awful acts."
His father added in the letter that Mohamud had an appointment to seek further treatment, 'but then this incident occurred'.
The family have since moved out of Manchester.
