A man has been hospitalised after allegedly being stabbed in Oxford outside a mosque.
A “significant police presence” is at the scene, and officers have established a cordon outside the Central Oxford Mosque, with members of the public urged to avoid the area.
Thames Valley Police Oxford said it was “on the scene of a serious incident” on Manzil Way, while multiple police cars were seen on the nearby Cowley Road.
A statement from the Central Oxford Mosque Society said: “Earlier this evening, a young man was stabbed in an altercation in the Cousin Close alleyway adjacent to Manzil Way. This incident is unconnected to the masjid... The young man came into the masjid seeking medical attention.
Thames Valley Police took to social media to release this statement
“He was assisted by trustees and the ambulance was called – paramedics and police have closed Manzil Way and Cousin Close.”
A mosque spokesperson told the Oxford Mail: “Us Muslims, our job is to protect life. You save one person, you save all of humanity.
“We were made aware that there has been a young person involved in an altercation.
“When we went outside a young man said ‘I’ve been stabbed’, so we immediately brought him into the mosque to help him.
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A Central Oxford Mosque spokesperson said worshippers brought the man into the mosque to help him
“He collapsed outside the mosque front doors where we administered first aid with our trained first aiders.
“The police and ambulance attended the scene and the young man is in hospital – our thoughts and our prayers are with the young man and his family and we hope he makes a full and speedy recovery.”
Oxford City Councillor Shaista Aziz said: “I was at the mosque today with my family and we left a few minutes before police cars started screeching in the direction of the mosque, so it was quite shocking to see that.
“I pulled over for the police to get past and the ambulance and then my mum was quite panicked because she thought something had happened at the mosque.
Police have cordoned off an area on Manzil Way following the "serious incident"
“I made phone calls to my family members to find out if they were okay as I had no idea what was going on.
“It is very shocking that this has happened on the second day of Ramadan and so close to the mosque… People weren't able to leave and have obviously had to wait for the police cordon to be lifted.
“It is very devastating, and this is the latest number of recent stabbings in Oxford – it is shocking there has been a big spike in stabbings in the city.
“There needs to be some serious questions asked about what is going on in relation to knife crime in Oxford.
“Prayers are with the victim, I hope he pulls through and thoughts are with his family too.”
Officials have not yet confirmed whether the man had been stabbed, but GB News has approached Thames Valley Police for comment.
