Man, 29, arrested on terrorism offences after woman is stabbed outside leisure centre

A 29-year-old man has been re-arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after a woman was stabbed outside a leisure centre in Cheltenham , Gloucestershire Constabulary said.

The woman has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after the incident at around 9.15pm on Thursday night in Tommy Taylors Lane in Cheltenham.

She remains in hospital for treatment where she remains in a ‘serious but stable condition’, police said.

Police said the man in custody was re-arrested last night under the Terrorism Act after he had previously been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder immediately after the incident.

Today, a warrant of further detention has been obtained by police, allowing officers to question him until Thursday March 16. 

Gloucestershire Constabulary said in a statement: ‘The man has been arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism contrary to Section 41 of the Terrorism Act (2000), as well as on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism under Section 5 of the Terrorism Act (2006).’

The investigation is being led by Counter Terrorism Policing South East due to the specific details of the incident. They will work alongside Counter Terrorism Police South West and officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary.

The force’s Assistant Chief Constable said he believed it was an ‘isolated incident’ and they are ‘not aware of any wider threat to members of the public’.

He encouraged the people with information about the incident to contact police on 101.

ACC Richard Ocone of Gloucestershire Constabulary said: ‘I would like to reassure those living locally or visiting the county that we believe this was an isolated incident and we are not aware of any wider threat to members of the public.

‘We are working closely with our partners in Counter Terrorism Policing.

‘We appreciate that an incident of this nature may be concerning and we would encourage people to contact us via 101 with any additional information they may have about the incident.’