A knifeman shrugged off being hit with a Taser and stabbed a police officer and three other people at a mosque in Birmingham last night.

The male police constable was responding to reports that three men had been stabbed inside the Madrasah Qasim ul Uloom mosque in the Ward End area of Birmingham when he was attacked.

The four men are being treated in hospital for their wounds and are described as ‘stable’.

A 32-year-old man, believed to be of Somali extraction and a local, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is currently in custody, a police spokeswoman added.

Attack: The police officer and three other people were stabbed at a mosque (pictured with sign, right) in the Ward End area of Birmingham. The four are in a ‘stable’ condition, according to a police spokesman

Police at the scene of the incident. A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the attack

Chief Superintendent Alex Murray, speaking at the scene, said the officers who responded were confronted by a man with a large combat knife and Tasered him, but the Taser was ineffective.

One of the officers, a 31-year-old from the Yardley Wood area of the city, was stabbed in the stomach and chest – around his stab-proof vest – but the pair, helped by people in the mosque, were able to detain him.

The injured men were also given first aid by worshippers. The two other men suffered severe but not life-threatening injuries to the arm and leg respectively, while the third was only slightly injured and did not require hospital treatment.

Chief Superintendent Alex Murray of West Midlands Police said: ‘I’d like to thank the brave officers for their heroic actions, as well as the people inside the mosque who acted extremely bravely despite being in substantial danger.

The suspect, a 32-year-old Somalian man, was taken to a secure mental health facility today

‘There were people inside the mosque who needed help, police needed to act even though a dangerous individual was inside.

‘As the male officer approached the suspect he deployed his taser, but it had no effect. The suspect then stabbed the officer in the chest and in the stomach, despite his injuries the officer and his female colleague wrestled the man to the ground, restrained him and made an arrest.

‘I’d like to thank the brave people inside the mosque who administered first aid to the men who suffered stab wounds. One man suffered serious injuries to his arm, one man was injured in his leg and the other man was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

‘We don’t understand the motivation of the individual. He was not known to people inside the mosque, but was welcomed inside warmly shortly before the attack.

‘As officers restrained the man and disarmed him they found a big knife similar to a combat knife.

‘The officers actions are an example of policing in it’s best light.

‘I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery and would like to reassure people locally that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with what happened.’

A police spokesman earlier said: ‘At 11:01pm members inside the mosque phoned police. They arrived within four minutes of being called out.

‘Before officers arrived an off duty surgeon who had been praying at the mosque was treating one of the victims who suffered severe injuries to his arm. The motive remains unclear and the man was not a regular attendee of the mosque.’

He added the suspect had this afternoon been taken to a secure mental health facility.

‘The suspect was assessed by mental health experts at lunchtime today and was deemed unfit to be interviewed in relation to the attack,’ he said.

‘While the investigation continues, the man will be constantly assessed by medics who will alert detectives as soon as he is deemed well enough to undergo questioning.’

The mosque is a converted house. Violence broke out shortly before 11pm on Saturday following late night prayers

A man who was praying at the time has claimed that the suspect was involved in a heated argument moments before the attack.

The eye-witness, who asked not to be named, said: ‘The man, who is from Somalia, had been at the mosque for the last prayer of the day before the men started arguing.

‘It turned violent quite quickly. Some people tried to get the man to calm down and asked him to leave.

‘But next thing he had stabbed the three men and everybody just panicked – it was an extremely scary thing to witness. This is a place of worship and respect – not a battlefield.’

A local businessman who asked not to be named said: ‘I just heard shouting behind me as I was praying. I turned around and saw two men grappling each other.

‘Suddenly a man pulled out a knife and stabbed the other man in the leg.

‘Someone tried to intervene but the man just went for him and thrust a knife into his abdomen.

‘It was absolutely terrifying. I was shaken and panicked.

‘When the police arrived they tried to Taser the man but he didn’t fall down. Instead he just lunged at the officer after pulling out his knife again and stabbed him.

‘There was blood everywhere. It was devastating.’

West Midlands Police have however refused to rule out any motives yet as they are in the early stages of their investigations.

A spokesman for the force said: ‘It is too early to rule anything out and our officers are at the scene as they investigate four attempted murders.

‘The suspect will remain in custody for questioning.’

Mohammed Shafiq, the leader of national Muslim organisation the Ramadhan Foundation, said: ‘The Ramadhan Foundation expresses its deep concern at the stabbing of three people and a police officer in the Ward End mosque in Birmingham last night.

‘Our immediate thoughts are with the victims injured and their families.

‘It is too early to speculate on the circumstances of the stabbings but we must be clear there should be no place for this sort of violence in our country.

‘There will obviously be people who will try to take advantage of this tragedy but we must not allow them to succeed.’

A nearby resident reported hearing an argument coming from inside the mosque and believes it was a domestic incident between members, Mr Shafiq added.

‘I have spoken to someone who lives a few doors down from the mosque and they described hearing an argument between some of the people inside the mosque,’ he said.

‘It escalated into violence and a police officer has been stabbed.

Many people living locally stood out on the street to watch what was happening as police maintained a presence in the area

‘People, anti-Muslim extremists, are going to try to take advantage of this – it’s very serious that a police officer has been stabbed during duty.

‘The aftermath of the brutal murder of Lee Rigby has led to an increase of attacks. The involvement of a police officer in this incident obviously causes more concern.’

Liam Byrne, MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, said ‘This is a devastating attack which has left the community extremely shaken.

‘What appears to have happened is that one worshipper turned on a number of other worshippers.

‘What is already clear is that this was not a hate crime – this was a tragic, sad, and isolated incident.

‘What’s really important now is that people stay very calm. We pray for those who’ve been hurt and rally round their families and we let justice now take its course.

‘The police have somebody in custody and I think what we would want to say is that it’s been brilliant how police and the community came together to contain the incident last night.

‘And above all, we want to praise the courage of West Midlands Police, they will do anything and everything to keep people safe in this community.’

Councillor Majid Mahmood, representing the Birmingham Hodge Hill ward, said ‘It’s a real shock to the community that an officer was injured last night. It was an isolated incident and definitely not race or hate crime related.

‘But what is very clear is that this was an isolated incident and officers responded extremely quickly but when they arrived the man who suffers from mental health issues charged at them with a knife.

‘The man is known to have prayed at the mosque on several occasions but was not a daily user and would use it on an ad hoc basis.

‘The attack was brutal and unjustified but certainly not a representative of our close and safe community.’

An eyewitness said the stabbing happened after a row at the Madrasah Qasim ul Uloom mosque

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