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A Muslim doctor was stabbed in the neck as he arrived at a mosque for evening prayers by attackers shouting "abusive comments".

Dr Nasser Kurdy was approached from behind and knife near the Altrincham Islamic Centre in Greater Manchester.

Two men, aged 32 and 54, have been arrested.

Police are treating the incident as a hate crime, reports the Manchester Evening News .

Dr Kurdy was rushed to hospital but has since been discharged.

A spokesman for the Altrincham & Hale Muslim Association said he was "very lucky".

Colleague Dr Khalid Anis was with the victim at the time of the attack.

"It could have been very, very serious."

(Image: BMI) (Image: MEN Media)

"He said he noticed someone cross the road and then somebody just attacked him from behind.

"There were definitely abusive comments made - obviously he was in shock at the time, he had just been stabbed so the detail of those comments I don't know but there were definitely abusive comments made by the attackers at the door of the mosque.

"We understand it was a knife - he is very lucky.

"It's obviously out of the blue, it's shocked the whole community.

"It's not just a criminal act against the Muslim community or one individual, it's the people living in Altrincham, I think we all feel that.

"The fact they attacked an orthopaedic consultant who devoted his life to helping others is really quite poignant."

Some worshippers were already inside the mosque when the attack happened just before 6pm on Sunday evening.

Members of the congregation spoke of their shock following the attack which they say is out of character for the area.

(Image: MEN Media)

Labour Councillor Andrew H Western for Priory Ward, Sale, said: "Shocked and saddened to hear of stabbing of Dr Nasser Kurdy outside Altrincham mosque. Thoughts with him and his family."

Miqdaad Versi, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), tweeted: "Thank you @gmpolice for your swift action (2 people in custody) following a Muslim being stabbed outside Altrincham Mosque in a hate crime.

"The victim is apparently in good spirits. It could have been a lot worse."

A spokesperson from the Altrincham Islamic Centre said: “Nothing like this has ever happened before and it does not reflect the community.

“In my experience community relations are very good and it is a very safe area; it is shocking for all of us.

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“I would like to invite anybody to come to talk to us and if they harbour any ill will then to come and find out more about us.

“My message to the congregation is to not be deterred from coming here.

“One thing that our scripture tells us is to repel evil with kindness.”

Harun Khan, secretary general of the MCB, said: "We are shocked to hear of the stabbing of a prominent Muslim surgeon outside Altrincham Mosque today in what the Greater Manchester Police have described as a hate crime.

"We are relieved to hear that the victim's injuries are not currently critical.

"Our prayers are with the victim, his family and the local community."

A friend of the victim told the M.E.N. he had suffered a 3cm stab wound and needed stitches.

He said: “He is a lovely guy, very gentle, loved by the community Muslim and non-Muslim alike.

“He needs stitches and will be kept in hospital overnight, he is incredibly lucky.

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"This incident has really shaken us.”

Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, said: "I strongly condemn the stabbing of the Imam of the Altrincham mosque earlier today.

"The Imam is recovering and an arrest has been made."

A video posted on Facebook following reports of the stabbing purportedly shows the victim immediately after the attack.

Greater Manchester Police said in a statement: "This evening Sunday 24th September at 5.50pm police were called to reports that a man had been stabbed outside the Altrincham and Hale Muslim Association, Grove Lane.

"It is early in the investigation but what we know so far is that a 58-year-old man was on his way to the Altrincham and Hale Muslim Association when he saw another man across the road. A short time later he felt an injury to the back of his neck. He ran into the Centre and then called emergency services.

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"Police and ambulance attended and the man was taken to hospital. Clearly he is shook up by the incident but thankfully his injuries are not life threatening and he has now been discharged from hospital.

"An investigation was commenced by police immediately and two men aged 54 and 32 were arrested within an hour of the attack.

"Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, said: “'This is a very nasty and unprovoked attack against a much loved local man. We have made significant progress with the investigation and have arrested two people.

“We consider that these arrests are significant and with the information that we have at this stage, we are not looking for anyone else in relation to this attack

“People will want to know why the attacker did this and we are treating this as a crime motivated by hate. It is difficult to say more than this at this time but there is nothing to suggest that this is terrorist related.

“There will be increased police presence in the area in the coming days to reassure local people.”

If anyone has witnessed this incident or saw anyone hanging around Grove Lane at this time, please contact Greater Manchester Police on 101 quoting reference number 1646 of 24/09/17 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

To report a hate crime, you can either call 101 or report it via the True Vision website at report-it.org.uk