A 47-year-old man has been detained by Manchester police following an incident where a copy of the Quran was allegedly burned in the city centre.
The act was apparently carried out during a live broadcast on social media on Saturday. The location of the incident was the Glade of Light memorial, dedicated to the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
The individual is currently held on suspicion of committing a racially aggravated public order offence, according to police reports. He remains in custody for further questioning.
Assistant Chief Constable Stephanie Parker of the Manchester Police addressed the incident, acknowledging the significant concern it has raised among various community groups and mentioning the circulation of the livestream video.
“We acted promptly in making an arrest,” she stated. “While we recognise the importance of freedom of expression, we must also ensure it does not turn into an act of intimidation causing harm or distress. We are committed to taking action when such incidents are brought to our attention.”
