A CO Antrim teenager, who was among the victims of a knife attack just hours after arriving in Manchester with friends, has undergone surgery.
Chloe McGurk (19), from the Glengormley in Newtownabbey, was only in the city a matter of hours when she was attacked in what police are treating as a terrorist incident.
Shoppers in the Arndale Centre barricaded themselves into stores after a man swung a blade at random victims,injuring the teenager along with two other women and a man at a Starbucks coffee shop. Another person who was attacked did not require hospital treatment.
None of the victims injuries are said to be life-threatening.
Photos of the crime scene showed blood covering tables and the floor of the Starbucks.
Two unarmed officers confronted the knifeman before he was cornered with tasers. Pictures from the scene show police holding the suspect on the ground and taking away a 12-inch machete style knife.
Greater Manchester Police said the 41-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of terrorism.
Ms McGurk, a former pupil of Glengormley High School, was stretchered away from the scene to a Manchester hospital where she had to undergo surgery.
The teenager suffered defensive stab and slash injuries to her hand after she tried to defend herself.
Along with a group of close friends she had flown from Belfast to Manchester on Friday morning for a weekend shopping trip.
A number of her friends witnessed the attack and are due to make statement to Manchester Police over the next few days.
Her friend Ellen Da Conceicao,who travelled with Ms McGurk, thanked people for all the support they had received.
Posting on Facebook she said: "All we wanted to do was come over to Manchester for a girly weekend but instead the first shopping centre we step into this happens.
"We’re all so shook and can't for the life of us understand how someone could be so low to do this to our Chloe and other victims.
"I can’t get that man's face and knife out of my head and probably won't for a very long time.
"Chloe is on the mend and she thanks everyone for her support we haven't left her side and we should hopefully be home within the next few days after interviewing etc.
"For everyone asking, thank yous all for the support we all appreciate it."
