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| Russell Square stabbings: Man arrested on suspicion of murder | Russell Square stabbings: Man arrested on suspicion of murder |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman was killed and five injured in a knife attack in Russell Square, central London. | A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman was killed and five injured in a knife attack in Russell Square, central London. |
| Police were called on Wednesday to reports of a man injuring people, including a woman in her 60s who died. | Police were called on Wednesday to reports of a man injuring people, including a woman in her 60s who died. |
| A 19-year-old man was arrested at 22:39 after a Taser was discharged by an officer. The Met said mental health was a "significant factor" in events. | A 19-year-old man was arrested at 22:39 after a Taser was discharged by an officer. The Met said mental health was a "significant factor" in events. |
| London Mayor Sadiq Khan called for the public to remain "calm and vigilant". | London Mayor Sadiq Khan called for the public to remain "calm and vigilant". |
| Scotland Yard said two other women and three men received various injuries in the attack, which happened near the Imperial Hotel. | |
| Two from the group remain in hospital while the other three people have since been discharged, the force added. | Two from the group remain in hospital while the other three people have since been discharged, the force added. |
| After receiving treatment in hospital the arrested man, who was detained in Bedford Place, is now in police custody in a south London police station. | |
| The Met's assistant commissioner for specialist operations, Mark Rowley, said the force's homicide command was leading the investigation into the attack, with support from the counter-terrorism unit. | The Met's assistant commissioner for specialist operations, Mark Rowley, said the force's homicide command was leading the investigation into the attack, with support from the counter-terrorism unit. |
| Latest: Russell Square stabbing attacks | Latest: Russell Square stabbing attacks |
| Jodie Parry, who witnessed the events unfold from her hotel window, said she saw a black man running down the street. | Jodie Parry, who witnessed the events unfold from her hotel window, said she saw a black man running down the street. |
| "I could hear the policeman screaming 'stop, don't move, don't go any further, just stay where you are', and he turned round and continued running," she said. | "I could hear the policeman screaming 'stop, don't move, don't go any further, just stay where you are', and he turned round and continued running," she said. |
| She added that the man was carrying a knife and had blood on his hands. | She added that the man was carrying a knife and had blood on his hands. |
| Paul Ó Geibheannaigh, who lives near to the square, said he had seen the body of the woman "on the pavement" and the area was surrounded by a "heavy armed police presence". | Paul Ó Geibheannaigh, who lives near to the square, said he had seen the body of the woman "on the pavement" and the area was surrounded by a "heavy armed police presence". |
| "I haven't seen a police presence like that in this area since 7/7," he said, referring to the terror attacks on the London transport system in July 2005. | "I haven't seen a police presence like that in this area since 7/7," he said, referring to the terror attacks on the London transport system in July 2005. |
| Zuhair Awartani was trying to return to a hotel where he was staying when he saw a "dark-skinned man" in his "late 20s" being arrested. | Zuhair Awartani was trying to return to a hotel where he was staying when he saw a "dark-skinned man" in his "late 20s" being arrested. |
| He added: "We heard that there's been a stabbing going on. The streets were blocked and no-one was allowed through." | He added: "We heard that there's been a stabbing going on. The streets were blocked and no-one was allowed through." |
| Speaking about a motive for the attack, Mr Rowley said: "Of course at this stage we should keep an open mind regarding motive and consequently terrorism as a motivation remains... one line of inquiry for us to explore." | Speaking about a motive for the attack, Mr Rowley said: "Of course at this stage we should keep an open mind regarding motive and consequently terrorism as a motivation remains... one line of inquiry for us to explore." |
| Mr Rowley added that Londoners would see an increased police presence on the streets, including armed officers, to "provide reassurance and safety". | Mr Rowley added that Londoners would see an increased police presence on the streets, including armed officers, to "provide reassurance and safety". |
| The Met's commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the force's "swift response undoubtedly helped to prevent more people from getting injured". | |
| He added: "We will protect our capital and those who live, work and visit our city." | |
| BBC News home affairs correspondent June Kelly said police would be looking at the man's background and his associates and whether he was known to them and health professionals. | BBC News home affairs correspondent June Kelly said police would be looking at the man's background and his associates and whether he was known to them and health professionals. |
| Mr Khan has cut short his holiday and will hold a briefing at City Hall at 15:30 BST. | Mr Khan has cut short his holiday and will hold a briefing at City Hall at 15:30 BST. |
| The mayor said his "heart goes out to the victims of the incident in Russell Square and their loved ones". | The mayor said his "heart goes out to the victims of the incident in Russell Square and their loved ones". |
| He said police were doing an "incredibly difficult job" and the safety of Londoners was his "number one priority". | He said police were doing an "incredibly difficult job" and the safety of Londoners was his "number one priority". |
| The mayor added that police were "working extremely hard to investigate exactly what has happened and to keep the rest of us safe". | The mayor added that police were "working extremely hard to investigate exactly what has happened and to keep the rest of us safe". |
| The Met said the attack was not linked with a separate stabbing in Wandsworth, south-west London, on Wednesday, in which one man was killed and two others injured. | The Met said the attack was not linked with a separate stabbing in Wandsworth, south-west London, on Wednesday, in which one man was killed and two others injured. |
| The Canadian High Commission said it was investigating reports a Canadian citizen had been injured in the attack. | The Canadian High Commission said it was investigating reports a Canadian citizen had been injured in the attack. |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| By Emma Atkinson, BBC News | By Emma Atkinson, BBC News |
| Walking around the park at Russell Square, a busy area for tourists with two hotels, cafes and a few souvenir shops, it almost feels like just another weekday morning. A few dog walkers and commuters buying their first coffee of the day. | Walking around the park at Russell Square, a busy area for tourists with two hotels, cafes and a few souvenir shops, it almost feels like just another weekday morning. A few dog walkers and commuters buying their first coffee of the day. |
| But just a few metres away along Southampton Row, a different story has been taking place. | But just a few metres away along Southampton Row, a different story has been taking place. |
| Earlier, police tape cordoned off a wide section of road and a white and yellow tent marked the point where one of the stabbings took place. | Earlier, police tape cordoned off a wide section of road and a white and yellow tent marked the point where one of the stabbings took place. |
| Two small bunches of flowers have been left along the park railings. | Two small bunches of flowers have been left along the park railings. |
| The forensic tent has now been cleared away and the pavement scrubbed clean, as officers gather the remnants of a few first aid bags that were left scattered on the pavement from the emergency teams. | The forensic tent has now been cleared away and the pavement scrubbed clean, as officers gather the remnants of a few first aid bags that were left scattered on the pavement from the emergency teams. |
| The area along Southampton Row is now being released from the police cordon and the blue and white tape is being taken down. | The area along Southampton Row is now being released from the police cordon and the blue and white tape is being taken down. |
| Officers in high visibility vests are still gathered, and a few TV cameras remain, but the street is beginning to look like normal again. | Officers in high visibility vests are still gathered, and a few TV cameras remain, but the street is beginning to look like normal again. |
| Shyam Sanghani, who runs Imperial News and Gifts opposite the scene of the attack, said: "We had more police announced yesterday and then this today, it's scary. | Shyam Sanghani, who runs Imperial News and Gifts opposite the scene of the attack, said: "We had more police announced yesterday and then this today, it's scary. |
| "We had Russell Square bombing just close by and now this. We've been here a long time and to have two incidents is awful. This is our home." | "We had Russell Square bombing just close by and now this. We've been here a long time and to have two incidents is awful. This is our home." |
| Emma and Mark Pigdon, from County Durham, who were staying in the President hotel, had been to the theatre when they came back and saw a woman lying on the street. | Emma and Mark Pigdon, from County Durham, who were staying in the President hotel, had been to the theatre when they came back and saw a woman lying on the street. |
| Emma Pigdon said: "She was a small lady, really slight, which made me think she was a teenager. We were shocked when we later heard she was in her 60s. | Emma Pigdon said: "She was a small lady, really slight, which made me think she was a teenager. We were shocked when we later heard she was in her 60s. |
| "She had what looked like a pattern on her clothes but I think it was blood." | "She had what looked like a pattern on her clothes but I think it was blood." |
| Kevin Hurley, former lead on counter terrorism at City of London Police, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "First and foremost, the tragic event that occurred could have happened at any day of the week in any street in our cities, because there are lots of mentally disordered people who should be in hospital and who are out and about. This is not unusual. We should not jump to conclusions and say that this is terrorist-related. | Kevin Hurley, former lead on counter terrorism at City of London Police, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "First and foremost, the tragic event that occurred could have happened at any day of the week in any street in our cities, because there are lots of mentally disordered people who should be in hospital and who are out and about. This is not unusual. We should not jump to conclusions and say that this is terrorist-related. |
| "However, it is another reminder of the fact that we need to do more, potentially, to stop people from being groomed on the internet and hate creatures spreading some unpleasantness. | "However, it is another reminder of the fact that we need to do more, potentially, to stop people from being groomed on the internet and hate creatures spreading some unpleasantness. |
| "But let's remember, you're much more likely to likely to die or be badly injured in your home, than you will either by a mentally disordered person, or indeed a terrorist." | "But let's remember, you're much more likely to likely to die or be badly injured in your home, than you will either by a mentally disordered person, or indeed a terrorist." |
| A police forensics tent was earlier put up on Southampton Row, outside the park in the centre of the square, which is close to the British Museum, but has since been removed. | A police forensics tent was earlier put up on Southampton Row, outside the park in the centre of the square, which is close to the British Museum, but has since been removed. |
| There had been a heavy police presence in the area. | There had been a heavy police presence in the area. |
| The woman killed in the attack had been treated at the scene but was pronounced dead a short time later. | The woman killed in the attack had been treated at the scene but was pronounced dead a short time later. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and London Mayor Sadiq Khan had said that there would be more armed police seen on patrol in London. | Earlier on Wednesday, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe and London Mayor Sadiq Khan had said that there would be more armed police seen on patrol in London. |
| Sir Bernard announced the move to reassure the public and deter attackers following terror attacks in Europe. | Sir Bernard announced the move to reassure the public and deter attackers following terror attacks in Europe. |
| Were you in the area? Did you witness the attack? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Were you in the area? Did you witness the attack? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |