Man Arrested with Axe at Mosque During Ramadan

0:00It's February 27, and this episode is brought to you by NordVPN, fast, reliable, online privacy. Links in the episode description. Here's what's happening across the UK. A 55-year-old man faces charges for possessing an offensive weapon after he entered a mosque in Manchester's Rashome area carrying an axe. Darren Conner was arrested at Manchester Central Mosque on Tuesday when police responded to reports of him and another individual acting suspiciously inside the building. The second man involved has not been charged in relation to the mosque incident, but faces separate charges for breaching a criminal behavior order. Conner also picked up an additional charge for possessing class B drugs during the arrest. This happened during Ramadan when communities gathered for worship and police emphasized the need for people to feel safe at religious sites. Those noted they've ramped up checks at places of worship during festivals like this one. Greater Manchester police consulted counter-terrorism units, but ruled out any terror link.

1:03Conner is set to appear in Manchester and software magistrates court on the morning of February 27. In response, officers are boosting patrols around Muslim communities with 12 hour shifts to provide extra security and peace of mind in the coming days.