A police officer was attacked after responding to reports of a man brandishing a knife in the street
Residents have described their shock after a police officer responding to reports of a man with knife was slashed across his face.
The attack on the officer happened after he was scrambled to reports of ‘a man brandishing a knife’ in Denmark Road in south Manchester just before 5pm today (May 12, 2026).
Eyewitnesses told the Manchester Evening News they saw ‘at least 30’ police officers descent on Denmark Road sports Centre, close to Oxford Road. Footage showed officers pouncing on a suspect at the entrance to the sports centre.
The incident was just days after Adrian ‘Dre Brown, a father-of-three, was fatally stabbed in nearby Raby Street in Moss Side on Friday night.
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One resident, who declined to be named, said: “It’s shocking that it’s happened so close to the one in Raby Street. We heard the sirens and the police were everywhere.”
An eyewitness said: “I was walking home from work and I heard sirens and police cars going around the corner. When I got there behind them, I saw loads of officers on top of a young guy.
“One of the officers was led away by colleagues and he had a large cut to his left cheek and was bleeding. It looked like he had been slashed with a knife. He was pulled away and got treated. There were about 30 officers there and they cordoned off the road.”
Greater Manchester Police later confirmed they were called to reports of a man with a knife, and an officer was assaulted. A male has since been arrested on arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, possession of a bladed article and possession of class B drugs.
Police remain at the scene outside Denmark Road Sports Centre(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
The M.E.N. understands the officer’s injuries are not life threatening, and they will attend hospital for treatment.
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A spokesperson for GMP said: “At around 4.55pm we were called to reports of a man brandishing a knife on Demark Road in Manchester.
“Police attended the scene an officer was assaulted. A man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, possession of a bladed article and possession of class B drugs.
Police remain at the scene outside Denmark Road Sports Centre(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
“He remains in custody for questioning.”