A MAN has denied trying to murder two women in an alleged knife attack at a Marks & Spencer store.

Both complainants received stab injuries during the incident in Burnley on December 2 and were taken to hospital.  Munawar Hussain, 57, from Burnley, appeared at Manchester Crown Court from custody by videolink on Friday and entered not guilty pleas to the attempted murders of Samantha Worthington and Janet Dell.

When both allegations were read out to him through an interpreter, Hussain replied: “I did not attempt to murder them.”

Hussain was arrested and charged following a counter-terrorism investigation.

He will face trial at Manchester Crown Court on January 31, and a pre-trial hearing will take place at the same court on January 21.