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| Man held on suspicion of murder following Russell Square knife attack | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A 19-year-old man is being held on suspicion of murder after a woman was killed and five other people were injured in multiple stabbings in central London. | |
| The man, who was arrested at the scene after police stunned him with a Taser, launched the attack at 10.30pm on Wednesday in Russell Square near to the Imperial Hotel and a short walk from the British Museum. | |
| The suspect is being held in a south London police station after receiving treatment at hospital. | |
| Britain’s most senior counter-terror officer, assistant commissioner Mark Rowley, said early reports suggested mental health was a factor. Scotland Yard dropped references to terrorism in its most recent updates, saying instead it was keeping an “open mind” as to the motive. | |
| Hotel guests described hearing screaming from the square below, while witnesses to the aftermath saw a body lying on the floor as armed police scrambled to the scene. Other accounts suggested the attacker was wearing a motorcycle helmet. | Hotel guests described hearing screaming from the square below, while witnesses to the aftermath saw a body lying on the floor as armed police scrambled to the scene. Other accounts suggested the attacker was wearing a motorcycle helmet. |
| I think there's been an incident outside the Imperial Hotel on Russell Square in London. :( #London pic.twitter.com/t0plUsWM1p | I think there's been an incident outside the Imperial Hotel on Russell Square in London. :( #London pic.twitter.com/t0plUsWM1p |
| Two women and three men suffered “various injuries” in the incident and were receiving treatment in hospital. Three were discharged from hospital on Thursday morning. The suspect was also treated at hospital. | Two women and three men suffered “various injuries” in the incident and were receiving treatment in hospital. Three were discharged from hospital on Thursday morning. The suspect was also treated at hospital. |
| The incident in the popular tourist area came amid warnings about the near-inevitability of a terrorist attack in the United Kingdom after months of jihadi strikes across Europe and the Middle East. | The incident in the popular tourist area came amid warnings about the near-inevitability of a terrorist attack in the United Kingdom after months of jihadi strikes across Europe and the Middle East. |
| One woman described seeing a man in motorcycle gear and with a helmet on top of his head near the scene. | One woman described seeing a man in motorcycle gear and with a helmet on top of his head near the scene. |
| Philippa Baglee, who was in London to celebrate her 60th birthday, was walking past Russell Square when she saw a group of people looking down at the ground. | Philippa Baglee, who was in London to celebrate her 60th birthday, was walking past Russell Square when she saw a group of people looking down at the ground. |
| She said: “There was someone lying on the ground and lots of people around and a guy with a black motorcycle helmet balanced on top of his head walking around. | She said: “There was someone lying on the ground and lots of people around and a guy with a black motorcycle helmet balanced on top of his head walking around. |
| “He was on the outside of everyone looking on the ground. The moment I saw an ambulance and police car arrive, I thought someone had just been knocked off their bike.” | “He was on the outside of everyone looking on the ground. The moment I saw an ambulance and police car arrive, I thought someone had just been knocked off their bike.” |
| Asked to describe the man, she said he was short and dressed in what she thought was all black leathers. | Asked to describe the man, she said he was short and dressed in what she thought was all black leathers. |
| She continued: “It was all very calm. No one was panicking.” | |
| Related: London stabbing: one dead and up to six injured after Russell Square knife attack – live | Related: London stabbing: one dead and up to six injured after Russell Square knife attack – live |
| The investigation into the stabbings, understood to have occurred near the Imperial Hotel on the eastern side of the square, was being led by murder detectives with the support of counter-terrorism officers. | The investigation into the stabbings, understood to have occurred near the Imperial Hotel on the eastern side of the square, was being led by murder detectives with the support of counter-terrorism officers. |
| Police received the first call just after 10.30pm and were at the scene in around five minutes. Several calls were made by members of the public between 10.30pm and 11.30pm. | Police received the first call just after 10.30pm and were at the scene in around five minutes. Several calls were made by members of the public between 10.30pm and 11.30pm. |
| Rowley addressed the media just after 3.30am London time outside Scotland Yard headquarters. | Rowley addressed the media just after 3.30am London time outside Scotland Yard headquarters. |
| “Early indications suggest mental health is a significant factor in this case and that is one major line of inquiry. But of course at this stage we should keep an open mind regarding motive and consequently terrorism as a motivation remains but one line of inquiry for us to explore,” Rowley said. | “Early indications suggest mental health is a significant factor in this case and that is one major line of inquiry. But of course at this stage we should keep an open mind regarding motive and consequently terrorism as a motivation remains but one line of inquiry for us to explore,” Rowley said. |
| RAW VIDEO: 1 dead and 5 other injured in London knife attack. https://t.co/NafAUnovtU | RAW VIDEO: 1 dead and 5 other injured in London knife attack. https://t.co/NafAUnovtU |
| Rowley said extra police patrols would be on London’s streets following the knife attack. These would include armed officers and were meant to reassure the public. | Rowley said extra police patrols would be on London’s streets following the knife attack. These would include armed officers and were meant to reassure the public. |
| The UK’s terrorism threat level remained at severe, meaning an attack was considered to be highly likely. | The UK’s terrorism threat level remained at severe, meaning an attack was considered to be highly likely. |
| Rowley said: “As a precautionary measure Londoners will wake up this morning to notice an increased presence on the streets of officers, including armed officers today. We would urge the public to remain calm, alert and vigilant.” | Rowley said: “As a precautionary measure Londoners will wake up this morning to notice an increased presence on the streets of officers, including armed officers today. We would urge the public to remain calm, alert and vigilant.” |
| The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, called for the public to remain “calm and vigilant”. The police were doing an “incredibly difficult job” and the safety of Londoners was his “number one priority”, the mayor added. | The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, called for the public to remain “calm and vigilant”. The police were doing an “incredibly difficult job” and the safety of Londoners was his “number one priority”, the mayor added. |
| Khan said his “heart goes out to the victims of the incident in Russell Square and their loved ones” after the death of the woman, who has not been identified but is believed to have been in her 60s. | Khan said his “heart goes out to the victims of the incident in Russell Square and their loved ones” after the death of the woman, who has not been identified but is believed to have been in her 60s. |
| #Police guarding cordon around #russellsquare #bedfordplace #southamptonrow Saw armed police & paramedics earlier pic.twitter.com/M4XLR2o14j | #Police guarding cordon around #russellsquare #bedfordplace #southamptonrow Saw armed police & paramedics earlier pic.twitter.com/M4XLR2o14j |
| Officers cordoned off the area overnight and were stopping people entering Bedford Place, just off Russell Square, where it was believed the suspect was arrested. Forensic officers wearing protective suits examined the scene. Most cordons were lifted on Thursday with just one partial road closure in place. | Officers cordoned off the area overnight and were stopping people entering Bedford Place, just off Russell Square, where it was believed the suspect was arrested. Forensic officers wearing protective suits examined the scene. Most cordons were lifted on Thursday with just one partial road closure in place. |
| Witnesses described how armed police flooded the area in the wake of the attack and officers established a large cordon to seal off the square where a forensics tent was later seen. | Witnesses described how armed police flooded the area in the wake of the attack and officers established a large cordon to seal off the square where a forensics tent was later seen. |
| Paul Hutchinson, who witnessed the aftermath of the attack, told Sky News: “Russell Square was all taped off by armed police and there was a body on the floor. | Paul Hutchinson, who witnessed the aftermath of the attack, told Sky News: “Russell Square was all taped off by armed police and there was a body on the floor. |
| “There were loads and loads of armed police, lots of police cars with lights on, a couple of ambulances and the body on the floor.” | “There were loads and loads of armed police, lots of police cars with lights on, a couple of ambulances and the body on the floor.” |
| A caller to BBC Radio London named Paul said he had been to the nearby Bloomsbury cinema with his girlfriend when he came across the scene. | A caller to BBC Radio London named Paul said he had been to the nearby Bloomsbury cinema with his girlfriend when he came across the scene. |
| “We came around the corner and there were armed police everywhere … a massive police presence … and a corpse lying in the street covered in a blanket. | “We came around the corner and there were armed police everywhere … a massive police presence … and a corpse lying in the street covered in a blanket. |
| Police cordon around #russellsquare now extended & forensic tent erected on Southampton row pic.twitter.com/0cU8Uor2E3 | Police cordon around #russellsquare now extended & forensic tent erected on Southampton row pic.twitter.com/0cU8Uor2E3 |
| “We went into the bar across the street and the officers came to interview us … we didn’t actually see anything but some people in the bar saw something.” | “We went into the bar across the street and the officers came to interview us … we didn’t actually see anything but some people in the bar saw something.” |
| Extra police were immediately deployed in the area which is frequented mainly by students and tourists. Along with the attraction of the British Museum, the University of London and the University College of London are very close by. There are numerous hotels and restaurants in the area, including Hotel Russell and the Imperial. | Extra police were immediately deployed in the area which is frequented mainly by students and tourists. Along with the attraction of the British Museum, the University of London and the University College of London are very close by. There are numerous hotels and restaurants in the area, including Hotel Russell and the Imperial. |
| Related: Police Federation sceptical after London increases armed police | Related: Police Federation sceptical after London increases armed police |
| Russell Square itself is a large garden square with a fountain in the middle and a cafe, and is very busy during the day. Russell Square tube station is located just off the square and the area is a main thoroughfare for buses. | Russell Square itself is a large garden square with a fountain in the middle and a cafe, and is very busy during the day. Russell Square tube station is located just off the square and the area is a main thoroughfare for buses. |
| The garden area is usually locked at night and would have closed at about 8.30pm. It was not clear whether it was still open when the stabbings took place, or whether they took place within the square itself or just outside. | The garden area is usually locked at night and would have closed at about 8.30pm. It was not clear whether it was still open when the stabbings took place, or whether they took place within the square itself or just outside. |
| A statement from the London Ambulance Service said: “We sent a number of staff to the scene, including four ambulance crews, a responder in a car, an advanced paramedic and two officers. | A statement from the London Ambulance Service said: “We sent a number of staff to the scene, including four ambulance crews, a responder in a car, an advanced paramedic and two officers. |
| Thank you so much @metpoliceuk for being so fast, caring and efficient tonight in #russellsquare . I am a resident and I really thank you. | Thank you so much @metpoliceuk for being so fast, caring and efficient tonight in #russellsquare . I am a resident and I really thank you. |
| “A medical team of a doctor and paramedic from London’s Air Ambulance also attended by car. Our first staff arrived at the scene within seven minutes. | “A medical team of a doctor and paramedic from London’s Air Ambulance also attended by car. Our first staff arrived at the scene within seven minutes. |
| “Sadly, despite extensive treatment one woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Our staff also treated a further five people who had been injured during the incident, three men and two women, who were all taken to hospital.” | “Sadly, despite extensive treatment one woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Our staff also treated a further five people who had been injured during the incident, three men and two women, who were all taken to hospital.” |
| Scotland Yard had earlier on Wednesday announced an extra 600 armed officers were being deployed on patrol in London after the recent terror attacks in France and Germany. | Scotland Yard had earlier on Wednesday announced an extra 600 armed officers were being deployed on patrol in London after the recent terror attacks in France and Germany. |