A 13-year-old boy was taken to hospital with knife wounds after a stabbing on Market Street, outside the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester city centre, on the evening of Tuesday 27 October.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said officers were called to reports of a stabbing at 7pm. The force first said the boy had potentially life-changing injuries, and in a later update said he was in a stable condition in hospital, as reported by BBC News and the Manchester Evening News (MEN).

Three boys, aged 14, 15 and 16, were arrested on suspicion of affray, and another boy, aged 13, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article, GMP said. In an update on Thursday 29 October, the force said three of the boys had been released on bail, the MEN reported. No charges have been reported.

Superintendent Simon Nasim, from GMP's City of Manchester team, said his thoughts were with the injured boy. He said the force was aware of other incidents of this nature in the city centre, but that “at this stage they are not thought to be linked”. He said dedicated teams would be deployed to hotspot areas in the city centre.

It was the third time in a fortnight that police had been called to the Arndale over an incident involving a knife. On Saturday 17 October, a 14-year-old boy was stabbed on the ninth floor of the Arndale car park. GMP said his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing, and two 14-year-old boys were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and later released on bail. On Saturday 24 October, officers were called to reports of another assault involving a knife.

GMP asks anyone with information, including CCTV or mobile phone footage, to call 0161 856 1495 or use the LiveChat function at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 3058 of 28/10/26. Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sources: BBC News, 28 October 2026; Manchester Evening News, 28 October 2026; Manchester Evening News, 29 October 2026; Greater Manchester Police, 17 October 2026; BBC News, 19 October 2026. This article was produced with the help of AI tools and checked by an editor against the sources above.