A large emergency response was called to an Oxford mosque after reports of a stabbing on Wednesday night.
Police descended on Cowley Road and the nearby Manzil Way following an incident.
Police cars arrived on both roads and taped off the Cosin Close alleyway off Manzil Way whilst also taping off the Central Oxford Mosque.
READ MORE: Mosque acts fast to 'give first aid to young man stabbed nearby’
Thames Valley Police officers at the scene said that someone had been hurt but the force is still yet to confirm that a stabbing took place.
The news that a stabbing occurred has been widely reported by the local community including councillors and the mosque itself.
A spokesperson for the mosque, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke to the Oxford Mail at the scene.
He said: "Us Muslims, our job is to protect life. You save one person, you save all of humanity.
"We were made aware that there has been a young person involved in an altercation on Cosin Close.
"When we went outside a young man said 'I've been stabbed' so we immediately brought him into the mosque to help him.
"He collapsed outside the mosque's front doors where we administered first aid with our trained first aiders.
“The police and ambulance attended the scene and the young man is in hospital.
"Our thoughts and our prayers are with the young man and his family and we hope he makes a full and speedy recovery."
A spokesperson inside the mosque said: "As we all know there are police outside and there has been an incident earlier on this evening.
"Unfortunately a young man has been stabbed, unconnected to the mosque in any shape, way or form.
"The young man was stabbed on Cosin Close, the alleyway adjacent to Manzil Way and consequently, the police have closed Manzil Way to the public and they are also closing Cosin Close."
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City councillor Shaista Aziz, the leader of the Independent Group, said: "I was at the mosque today with my family and we left a few minutes before police cars started screeching in the direction of the mosque so it was quite shocking to see that.
"I pulled over for the police to get past and the ambulance and then my mum was quite panicked because she thought something had happened at the mosque.
"I made phone calls to my family members to find out if they were Ok as I had no idea what was going on.
"It is very shocking that this has happened on the second day of Ramadan and so close to the mosque.
"People weren't able to leave and have obviously had to wait for the police cordon to be lifted.
"It is very devastating and this is the latest number of recent stabbings in Oxford so it is shocking there has been a big spike in stabbings in the city.
"There needs to be some serious questions asked about what is going on in relation to knife crime in Oxford.
"Prayers are with the victim, I hope he pulls through and thoughts are with his family too."
"The incident was unconnected to the mosque, the victim went inside to ask for help - and the mosque trustees called for an ambulance and the police.
"They dealt with the incident calmly."
At the time, a spokesperson for the Thames Valley Police said: “We’re currently on the scene of a serious incident in Manzil Way, Oxford.
“There is a significant police presence in the area and Manzil Way is currently closed and is likely to remain so for some time.
“We would ask the public to please avoid the area.
“More details will follow later.”
The Oxford Mail has approached Thames Valley Police for a further statement.
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