Murder arrest after fatal stabbing of Manchester student last week

Detectives investigating the fatal stabbing of a student in Manchester last week are questioning a teenage suspect in custody today (29 October).

A 19-year-old man was detained in the Fallowfield area of the city last night and is being questioned on suspicion of the murder of Luke O’Connor (19) from Bedfordshire, who was fatally stabbed on Wilmslow Road in the early hours of Wednesday (26 October) morning.

Our Major Incident Team has been conducting a wide-range of thorough enquiries in the last few days since Luke’s death to establish the circumstances of the tragic incident and who is responsible.

At this stage, we believe that Luke did not know his attacker prior to the fatal encounter.

Investigators are not currently looking for anyone else but we continue to ask for any information or footage that has not yet been shared with us by calling 0161 856 6777 quoting incident 240 of 26/10/2022.

Or you can directly submit images and mobile phone, dash-cam, or doorbell footage here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP22E12-PO1

Information can also be shared anonymously via the independent charity - Crimestoppers - on 0800 555 111.

We’ve had extra officers patrolling the Fallowfield area this week and are continuing to listen and speak to students about their concerns in the city, as well as working closely with both universities.

Superintendent Helen Critchley, of our City of Manchester South district, said: “The arrest of a 19-year-old suspect on Friday night is an important step in our investigation which is moving at pace.

“Since the tragic killing of Luke our investigation team has made significant progress as we do all we can to get justice for Luke’s family who we are continuing to support at this devastating time.

“There are still a number of enquiries being conducted to establish what happened in the early hours of Wednesday, but what is clear is that this was a senseless and needless loss of a promising young life that has shocked our student community and we are doing all we can to support them, too.”