A couple who were stabbed during an attack at Manchester Victoria station on New Year’s Eve have said they hope the incident does not “divide communities or create tensions”.

The man and woman, both in their 50s, sustained multiple stab wounds in the suspected terrorist attack on the station concourse. They remain in hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

In a statement released by Greater Manchester police (GMP), the couple thanked the officers who “ran into danger to protect us”.

Sgt Lee Valentine of British Transport Police (BTP) was also stabbed after he ran to arrest a suspect near the Metrolink platforms A and B. He has since been released from hospital to recover at home.

“We would like to thank the men and women from British Transport Police who ran into danger to protect us, as well as the paramedics and hospital employees who have shown great care and skill in looking after us,” the couple said.

“We also want to say thank you to GMP for their ongoing support, our families for their care and concern, our friends and the wider public. We hope this incident does not divide communities or create tensions. Now we would like to be left in peace to make a full recovery.”

On Wednesday police said the injured man had made “good progress” and was expected to be released from hospital soon. “His partner is also making progress but is expected to be in hospital for longer,” the force said.

Since the incident it has emerged that the 25-year-old man suspect was known to mental health services. “There’s often an underlying mental health problem when someone commits anything of this kind,” a source close to the investigation said. The suspect was not known to counter-terrorism police, the source added.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains detained under the Mental Health Act in a secure medical facility. On Wednesday his family released a statement saying they were praying for the three victims.

Greater Manchester police said a counter-terrorism investigation remained ongoing. On Wednesday police finished searching the suspect’s house and said they were “increasingly confident that the man acted alone in the final stages of the attack”.