A 29-year-old man has admitted stabbing a surgeon outside the Altrincham Islamic Centre in Hale in September.
Dr Nasser Kurdy was stabbed in the neck as he walked into the centre on Grove Lane on Sunday September 17th.
Ian Rooke, of HMP Manchester, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and having an offensive weapon in public, but denied attempted murder in a hearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
He was remanded in custody ahead of a trial in March.
Dr Kurdy, who works as an orthopaedic surgeon at Wythenshawe Hospital, was not seriously injured in the attack and was discharged from hospital later the same night.