The incident took place at Manchester Central Mosque | Google Maps

The first suspect, a man in his 50s, who was arrested at the mosque during the initial police attendance, also remains in custody.

The incident saw two men enter the mosque during Ramadan prayers, brandishing an axe and carrying other weapons – apprehended before they were able to hurt or threaten any congregants.

A warrant of further detention has been obtained to allow detectives additional time to continue their investigation and conduct further interviews with the man first arrested at the scene.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “There is no intelligence to suggest that this incident poses a wider threat to the community, and we are not looking for any further suspects in relation to this”.

The force is working with counter terrorism policing to investigate, “keeping an open mind on the potential motivation” for the incident.

Worshippers were taking part in Ramadan prayers when the two men were spotted entering the Manchester Central Mosque, reportedly carrying bags, with one believed to be containing an axe and the other a hammer and a knife.

Attendees stopped one of the men as he entered the place of worship and took him into a separate room where they discovered the bag full of weapons.

The force confirmed “no threats were made and nobody was injured”, however an increased police presence remains in the area and attendees at the mosque have been warned to be vigilant and to “travel in groups where possible and not leave children unattended”.

Congregants were gathered at the mosque for Ramadan prayers | GETTY

Assistant Chief Constable John Webster said: “Our investigation has been working at pace, leading to us making an arrest for the outstanding man this morning. Detectives will be conducting interviews with him today.

“We continue to take this incident seriously and have been granted extra time by the courts to question the first man, so we can thoroughly explore all possible lines of enquiry into the circumstances.