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| Russell Square stabbings: Man arrested on suspicion of murder | Russell Square stabbings: Man arrested on suspicion of murder |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a US citizen was killed and five other people were injured in a knife attack in central London. | A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a US citizen was killed and five other people were injured in a knife attack in central London. |
| Police believe the attack in Russell Square on Wednesday was "spontaneous", with victims "selected at random". | Police believe the attack in Russell Square on Wednesday was "spontaneous", with victims "selected at random". |
| The woman who died was thought to be in her 60s. The injured people were from Britain, America, Israel and Australia. | The woman who died was thought to be in her 60s. The injured people were from Britain, America, Israel and Australia. |
| Police arrested a 19-year-old Norwegian national of Somali origin. They say there is no evidence of radicalisation. | Police arrested a 19-year-old Norwegian national of Somali origin. They say there is no evidence of radicalisation. |
| The Met Police's assistant commissioner for specialist operations, Mark Rowley, said the investigation was increasingly pointing to the attack being "triggered by mental health issues". | The Met Police's assistant commissioner for specialist operations, Mark Rowley, said the investigation was increasingly pointing to the attack being "triggered by mental health issues". |
| He had earlier said the force was considering terrorism as a line of inquiry. Mr Rowley, Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer, told a press conference it had been necessary to consider "all possibilities" following recent terror attacks across Europe. | |
| Armed police were called to the square shortly after 22:30 BST on Wednesday after receiving reports of a man attacking people with a knife. | Armed police were called to the square shortly after 22:30 BST on Wednesday after receiving reports of a man attacking people with a knife. |
| They arrived within six minutes and chased the suspect, who eyewitnesses said had blood on his hands. They said police ordered him to stand still but he kept running. | They arrived within six minutes and chased the suspect, who eyewitnesses said had blood on his hands. They said police ordered him to stand still but he kept running. |
| He was then Tasered by officers. | He was then Tasered by officers. |
| 'Heartbreaking news' | 'Heartbreaking news' |
| Two other women and three men received various injuries in the attack, which happened near the Imperial Hotel. | Two other women and three men received various injuries in the attack, which happened near the Imperial Hotel. |
| One person from the group remains in hospital while the others have since been discharged. None of the injuries were life-threatening. | One person from the group remains in hospital while the others have since been discharged. None of the injuries were life-threatening. |
| The US ambassador to the UK, Matthew Barzun, said of the woman who died: "Heartbreaking news that a US citizen was killed in #RussellSquare attack. My prayers are with all the victims and their loved ones." | The US ambassador to the UK, Matthew Barzun, said of the woman who died: "Heartbreaking news that a US citizen was killed in #RussellSquare attack. My prayers are with all the victims and their loved ones." |
| After receiving treatment in hospital, the arrested man, who was detained in Bedford Place, is now in police custody in south London. | After receiving treatment in hospital, the arrested man, who was detained in Bedford Place, is now in police custody in south London. |
| Norwegian police said in a statement the man had emigrated from Norway in 2002 and they were assisting London police. | Norwegian police said in a statement the man had emigrated from Norway in 2002 and they were assisting London police. |
| The Met said they had searched an address in north London on Thursday morning and another will be searched in south London. | The Met said they had searched an address in north London on Thursday morning and another will be searched in south London. |
| Jodie Parry, who witnessed the events unfold from her hotel window, said she saw a man running down the street. | Jodie Parry, who witnessed the events unfold from her hotel window, said she saw a 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. |
| 'Body on the street' | 'Body on the street' |
| 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". |
| Mr Rowley said there would be an increased police presence on the streets in the wake of the attack - including armed officers - to "provide reassurance and safety". | Mr Rowley said there would be an increased police presence on the streets in the wake of the attack - including armed officers - to "provide reassurance and safety". |
| Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the force's "swift response undoubtedly helped to prevent more people from getting injured". | Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the force's "swift response undoubtedly helped to prevent more people from getting injured". |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| By Emma Atkinson, BBC News | By Emma Atkinson, BBC News |
| Russell Square is bustling with local workers and tourists exploring the area. It's hard to believe that just a few hours ago it was an active crime scene. | Russell Square is bustling with local workers and tourists exploring the area. It's hard to believe that just a few hours ago it was an active crime scene. |
| Along Southampton Row, police tape had cordoned off a wide section of road, and a white and yellow forensics tent marked the point where the fatal stabbing took place. | Along Southampton Row, police tape had cordoned off a wide section of road, and a white and yellow forensics tent marked the point where the fatal stabbing took place. |
| Now the pavement has been scrubbed clean and officers have gathered up the discarded first aid bags left scattered on the roadside by the emergency teams. | Now the pavement has been scrubbed clean and officers have gathered up the discarded first aid bags left scattered on the roadside by the emergency teams. |
| While a few TV cameras remain, the street is beginning to look like normal again, with only a small but growing number of floral have been left along the park railings. | While a few TV cameras remain, the street is beginning to look like normal again, with only a small but growing number of floral have been left along the park railings. |
| Shyam Sanghani, who runs Imperial News and Gifts opposite the scene of the attack, said: "It's scary. | Shyam Sanghani, who runs Imperial News and Gifts opposite the scene of the attack, said: "It's scary. |
| "We had the 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 the 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 in 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 in the street. |
| Mrs 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. | Mrs 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." |
| More from the scene | More from the scene |
| London Mayor Sadiq Khan cut short his holiday following the attack and will hold a briefing at City Hall at 15:30 BST. | London Mayor Sadiq Khan cut short his holiday following the attack and will hold a briefing at City Hall at 15:30 BST. |
| 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 Met said the attack was not linked to 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 to a separate stabbing in Wandsworth, south-west London, on Wednesday, in which one man was killed and two others injured. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Sir Bernard and Mr Khan had said that there would be more armed police seen on patrol in London. | Earlier on Wednesday, Sir Bernard and Mr 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. |
| Knife crime statistics | Knife crime statistics |
| The Met Police says it was called to more than 9,000 crimes in London in which a knife or sharp instrument was used in the 12 months to April 2016. | The Met Police says it was called to more than 9,000 crimes in London in which a knife or sharp instrument was used in the 12 months to April 2016. |
| The numbers are down from a high of more than 14,000 offences recorded in 2007-08 - although the figures began rising again in the 2014-15 period. | The numbers are down from a high of more than 14,000 offences recorded in 2007-08 - although the figures began rising again in the 2014-15 period. |
| Overall, across England and Wales there has been a 12% decrease in knife crime offences in the last five years. | Overall, across England and Wales there has been a 12% decrease in knife crime offences in the last five years. |
| But, like the trend seen in the capital, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows offences were up last year - there were 28,664 incidents across the country in 2015-16, a 10% rise on the previous 12 months. | But, like the trend seen in the capital, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics shows offences were up last year - there were 28,664 incidents across the country in 2015-16, a 10% rise on the previous 12 months. |
| There were 214 suspected homicides in England and Wales where a knife or sharp instrument was used in 2015-2016 - the total number of deaths has varied between 187 and 237 in the past five years. | There were 214 suspected homicides in England and Wales where a knife or sharp instrument was used in 2015-2016 - the total number of deaths has varied between 187 and 237 in the past five years. |
| Source: Met Police/ONS | Source: Met Police/ONS |
| 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 |