A mother-of-four has been stabbed to death outside her suburban home while her Christian preacher husband and a 17-year-old girl were left critically-injured in the horrific incident.
Devastated friends named the murder victim as Alberta Obinim, 43, who they described as ‘powerful and inspirational’ and ‘a mother to everyone’.
Her husband Joshua Obinim, 64, a caretaker and Baptist church leader, and the unnamed teenage girl were also said to have been stabbed outside the ‘quiet’ family’s semi-detached home in Gorton, Manchester, late on Sunday night.
Both remain in a critical but stable condition in hospital, police said yesterday.
Police arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of murder, who detectives said was ‘known’ to the victims. He remained in custody last night.
Tributes have been paid to mother-of-four Alberta Obinim, 43, who was stabbed to death in a Manchester knife attack
Police are investigating the knife attack in Gorton which has left a 17-year-old girl and a man aged 64 fighting for their lives in hospital
A drone view of Greater Manchester police officers near a property in Barnard Road in Gorton, Manchester, where emergency services were called shortly after 11pm on Sunday
Family friend Ibrahim Abu led the tributes to Mrs Obinim, a care worker and member of the city’s Ghanaian community.
He said: ‘She was a very nice lady. She always talked to people and was a mother to everyone… always laughing.’
Derrick Wiafe, another family friend, described Mrs Obinim as a ‘powerful and inspirational woman’.
The family worshipped at Blessed Baptist Temple church, based in nearby Levenshulme, where Mr Obinim is church leader and trustee.
Anthony Clement, 43, an administrator at the church, said of the Obinims: ‘They are very good people. This has come as really shocking news to me.’
Leaving white roses at the scene, one of Mrs Obinim’s work colleagues said the situation ‘didn’t seem real’.
The woman, 31, said: ‘She was amazing, so kind and caring. It’s just a proper shock. She’s got a lovely family.’
The 43-year-old carer died following a triple stabbing on Barnard Road, Gorton, at about 11:20pm on Sunday
Flora tributes have been left at the scene in Barnard Road, Gorton, following the stabbings
Aerial images show three forensic tents which have been erected after stabbings along Barnard Road in Gorton, a suburb of Manchester
Police and paramedics found that three people – a 17-year-old girl, a 43-year-old woman and 64-year-old man – had all suffered serious stab wounds in Barnard Road, Gorton
Police and forensic officers have been pictured at the scene in Barnard Road this morning
Police have cordoned off part of the road in Gorton, east Manchester, as officers investigate a triple stabbing last night which left a 43-year-old woman dead
Greater Manchester Police, who have kept a cordon in place this morning (pictured), were first called to the scene of the triple stabbing on Sunday night at about 11.20pm
A police cordon yesterday remained in place outside the family home, with three forensic tents in place.
Locals described seeing the knifeman pursue a girl down the street and stab her during the attack at 11.20pm on Sunday.
One man, who gave his name as Reece, said he was sat in his car with his cousin when he heard a commotion and people ‘shouting’.
He recalled: ‘There was a guy with a knife chasing a girl. I said: ‘Leave her alone, it’s not worth it’. She fell and he stabbed her.
‘I turned my car towards him but the girl was in the way. He started chasing my car with the knife.’
Another neighbour, who gave his named as Ahmed, said he saw a man ‘on the floor in a lot of blood’.
Three forensic tents are in place, outside a house, in the road and another in a front garden
A large emergency services response attended an incident at a house and forensic officers have been on the scene today
Investigators are near in Barnard Road in the east Manchester suburb of Gorton today
Officers had first been called to the residential road shortly after 11.20pm on Sunday
Barnard Road remained under police scrutiny, with a cordon in place, on Monday
Greater Manchester Police, whose officers remain at the scene, said a 22-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder
Meanwhile, Keelan Sands, 30, said: ‘I heard all the screaming. One of the neighbours told me to stay back because someone had been stabbed. They said there was a man on the floor. It was shocking, I was shaking. I heard one of the police telling (the dad) to “stay with me”.’
Another neighbour said: ‘Alberta was my friend. We used to go to the market together. We both spoke the same language – Ghanaian. It is just so shocking and upsetting.’
Police including armed officers were deployed to the scene and the suspect was apprehended in the area.
Detective Superintendent Toby Facey, of Greater Manchester Police, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with those affected and their loved ones. We are doing all we can to support them.
‘An investigation has been launched and we are in the very early stages of our enquiries.’
