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Mass stabbing in central London leaves woman dead and five injured Knife attack in central London leaves woman dead and five injured
(35 minutes later)
A woman has been killed and five people have been injured in a mass stabbing in the centre of London. A knife attack has left one woman dead and five injured in central London as police investigated whether mental illness or terrorism had motivated a suspect arrested at the scene.
Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command, known as SO15, were investigating the incident in Russell Square on Wednesday night but police also said that mental health could be a “significant factor”. Officers fired an electric stun gun as they arrested the 19-year-old man after being called to the incident in Russell Square near the British Museum just after 10.30pm on Wednesday. He was taken to hospital where he was being held in custody.
Police said mental health seemed to be a “significant” factor in the incident.
Related: London stabbing: one dead and up to six injured after Russell Square knife attack – liveRelated: London stabbing: one dead and up to six injured after Russell Square knife attack – live
Police said there would be an increased police presence on the streets of London from Thursday morning “for reassurance and safety”. But Scotland Yard said that for “reassurance and safety”, Londoners would see extra officers, including armed police, deployed on London’s streets on Thursday morning.
A woman in her 60s was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead a short time later. Another two women and three men suffered “various injuries” in the attack, police said on Thursday morning. The incident in the popular tourist area came amid warnings about the near inevitability that the United Kingdom would suffer a terrorist attack, after months of jihadi strikes across Europe and the Middle East.
A 19-year-old man was arrested minutes after police arrived on the scene which is in a busy area close to the British Musem and home to many hotels and restaurants popular with tourists. 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, supported by counter-terrorism officers.
The suspect, who was Tasered during the arrest, was being held in custody in hospital, police said. Mark Rowley, the Met’s assistant commissioner and Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism officer, addressed the media just after 3.30am London time.
Local borough police responded to the incident but as detail emerged, the decision was made to involve the counter-terrorism command in the investigation. “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 outside Scotland Yard headquarters.
Mark Rowley, an assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan police and Britain’s most senior counter terrorism officer, made a statement to the media outside Scotland Yard headquarters shortly after 3.30am on Thursday morning.
#Police guarding cordon around #russellsquare #bedfordplace #southamptonrow Saw armed police & paramedics earlier pic.twitter.com/M4XLR2o14j
He 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.
“At present the Met’s homicide command are investigating the incident but at present are supported by our counterterrorism unit.
“As a precautionary measure tomorrow, Londoners will wake up and in the morning they will notice an increased police presence on the streets, including armed officers.”
RAW VIDEO: 1 dead and 5 other injured in London knife attack. https://t.co/NafAUnovtURAW VIDEO: 1 dead and 5 other injured in London knife attack. https://t.co/NafAUnovtU
Police cordoned off the area and were also stopping people entering Bedford Place, just off Russell Square, where it is believed the suspect was arrested. Rowley said extra police patrols would be on London’s streets following the knife attack. These would include armed officers, with the extra patrols meant to reassure the public.
Two forensic team officers wearing protective suits were examining the scene. The UK’s terrorism threat level remained at severe, meaning an attack was 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.”
Describing the incident as “tragic”, Rowley said that a woman in her 60s was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead a short time later. Another two women and three men suffered “various injuries” in the attack.
Police gave few more details about the incident and there was no indication about why they were considering terrorism as a possibility.
#Police guarding cordon around #russellsquare #bedfordplace #southamptonrow Saw armed police & paramedics earlier pic.twitter.com/M4XLR2o14j
Police cordoned off the area and were also stopping people entering Bedford Place, just off Russell Square, where it is believed the suspect was arrested. Forensic officers wearing protective suits were examining the scene.
Witnesses described seeing armed police flood 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.
“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/0cU8Uor2E3Police 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 have been deployed in the area to provide reassurance. Extra police were immediately deployed in the area which is frequented mainly by students and tourists. The University of London and the University College of London are very close by, as is the British Museum. There are numerous hotels in the area, including Hotel Russell and the Imperial, which overlook the square.
A police statement clarifying some details of the incident was issued at 5am. “Police were called just after 22:30hrs to reports of a man armed with a knife assaulting people at Russell Square, Camden,” it said.
Related: Police Federation sceptical after London increases armed policeRelated: Police Federation sceptical after London increases armed police
“Armed officers attended the scene within approximately five minutes. They discharged a Taser whilst arresting the suspect. 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 it is a main thoroughfare for buses.
“Six people were injured during the incident, including the woman who died at the scene. Two other women and three men (no further information) received various injuries in the attack. The deceased woman is believed to be in her 60s.
“The suspect, a 19-year-old man, is currently in police custody at a London hospital.
“Early indications suggest that mental health is a significant factor in this case, but we retain an open mind regarding the motive and terrorism remains one line of inquiry.
“The Metropolitan police service’s homicide and major crime command is investigating, supported by officers from the counter terrorism command.”
Scotland Yard had earlier on Wednesday announced an extra 600 officers armed officers were being deployed on patrol in London after the recent terror attacks in France and Germany.
Thank you so much @metpoliceuk for being so fast, caring and efficient tonight in #russellsquare . I am a resident and I really thank you.
The Russell Square area is frequented mainly by students and tourists. The University of London and the University College of London are very close by, as is this British Museum. There are numerous hotels in the area, including Hotel Russell and the Imperial, which overlook the square.
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 main square and it 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.
One woman dead, multiple people wounded in #London knife attack at #RussellSquare, unknown if terrorism at this time pic.twitter.com/jQLUMx2y5X A statement from 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.
“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.”
Scotland Yard had earlier on Wednesday announced an extra 600 officers armed officers were being deployed on patrol in London after the recent terror attacks in France and Germany.