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London stabbing: suspect is Norwegian Somali with 'no evidence' of terror – live London stabbing: suspect is Norwegian Somali with 'no evidence' of terror – live
(about 3 hours later)
6.06pm BST
18:06
Israeli victim identified
The Israeli woman injured in the Russell Square stabbings is an 18-year-old from Tel Aviv on a pre-enlistment trip to London, according to an Israeli news report.
Yuval Labkovsky was returning to her hotel with her grandfather, after eating in a Thai restaurant, when she was set upon. Labkovsky was lightly injured in her hand during the stabbing attack and released after treatment in hospital.
According to a report on the Hebrew version of the Ynet news website Labkovsky described witnessing the attack and then being injured herself.
“On the way back from the hotel, I heard screams and saw two men running toward me,” she told the site. I was afraid that it was a terror attack and was sure the two men were running away from the incident.
“I approached the first and felt a pain in my hand. I thought I was just hit, but it turned out he was the stabber. The second man, who was chasing him, was the man who tried, and later succeeded, in catching him.
“I saw a woman lying on the floor, covered in blood. Her husband supported her. Suddenly I realized I was also bleeding,” she added.“I’m not afraid in Israel, so I have no reason to start being afraid in London,” she says.
2.37pm BST2.37pm BST
14:3714:37
Jo Loughran, interim director of Time to Change, the mental health anti-stigma campaign run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, has urged the media to ensure any reporting of a mental health element to the Russell Square attacks is “informed and balanced”. She points out that the overwhelming majority of people with mental health problems will never pose a risk to others. She said:Jo Loughran, interim director of Time to Change, the mental health anti-stigma campaign run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, has urged the media to ensure any reporting of a mental health element to the Russell Square attacks is “informed and balanced”. She points out that the overwhelming majority of people with mental health problems will never pose a risk to others. She said:
We understand that the police have released an update about the tragic incident at Russell Square stating that mental health is an increasingly significant factor in this case. The media must rightly report on this angle but we encourage them to do so responsibly.We understand that the police have released an update about the tragic incident at Russell Square stating that mental health is an increasingly significant factor in this case. The media must rightly report on this angle but we encourage them to do so responsibly.
There have been a number of horrendous acts of violence committed across Europe over recent weeks. As the media look to unpick these extremely complex incidents to explore motivations and reason we urge journalists and editors to provide well informed and balanced coverage of mental health.There have been a number of horrendous acts of violence committed across Europe over recent weeks. As the media look to unpick these extremely complex incidents to explore motivations and reason we urge journalists and editors to provide well informed and balanced coverage of mental health.
Millions of people experience mental health problems every year and the overwhelming majority will never pose a risk to others.Millions of people experience mental health problems every year and the overwhelming majority will never pose a risk to others.
2.28pm BST2.28pm BST
14:2814:28
Another victim likely to be discharged from hospital soonAnother victim likely to be discharged from hospital soon
A spokeswoman for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said two Australians were injured - a man who is already out of hospital and a woman who is expected to be discharged shortly.A spokeswoman for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said two Australians were injured - a man who is already out of hospital and a woman who is expected to be discharged shortly.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed with London police the condition of two Australians injured in a stabbing attack in Russell Square, London. A man and a woman both sustained non-life threatening injuries. The man has already been discharged from hospital while the woman is expected to be discharged soon. Another Australian woman was at the scene of the attack, but was not injured. Consular assistance has been provided to the man and one of the women and DFAT is attempting to contact the other woman involved to offer consular assistance.The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed with London police the condition of two Australians injured in a stabbing attack in Russell Square, London. A man and a woman both sustained non-life threatening injuries. The man has already been discharged from hospital while the woman is expected to be discharged soon. Another Australian woman was at the scene of the attack, but was not injured. Consular assistance has been provided to the man and one of the women and DFAT is attempting to contact the other woman involved to offer consular assistance.
If the woman is discharged, that would leave one person (presumably American or British as the Israeli woman has been discharged) still in hospitalIf the woman is discharged, that would leave one person (presumably American or British as the Israeli woman has been discharged) still in hospital
1.54pm BST1.54pm BST
13:5413:54
US ambassador to the UK Matthew Barzun has posted a tribute to the American victim on Twitter.US ambassador to the UK Matthew Barzun has posted a tribute to the American victim on Twitter.
Heartbreaking news that a U.S. citizen was killed in #RussellSquare attack. My prayers are with all the victims and their loved ones.Heartbreaking news that a U.S. citizen was killed in #RussellSquare attack. My prayers are with all the victims and their loved ones.
1.29pm BST1.29pm BST
13:2913:29
12.42pm BST12.42pm BST
12:4212:42
The Jewish Chronicle quotes a spokesman for the Israeli embassy confirming one of the injured was an Israeli woman on holiday in the UK visiting friends and family.The Jewish Chronicle quotes a spokesman for the Israeli embassy confirming one of the injured was an Israeli woman on holiday in the UK visiting friends and family.
He said:He said:
She was injured and taken to hospital but was discharged and she is doing ok.She was injured and taken to hospital but was discharged and she is doing ok.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.42pm BSTat 12.42pm BST
12.27pm BST12.27pm BST
12:2712:27
Alice RossAlice Ross
The suspect emigrated from Norway to the UK in 2002, the Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs has said (so he would have been around five-years-old).The suspect emigrated from Norway to the UK in 2002, the Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs has said (so he would have been around five-years-old).
It has appointed a liaison officer to assist in the case. A spokesman said:It has appointed a liaison officer to assist in the case. A spokesman said:
We will assist the British police in the normal manner, with information and any requests they might have in their investigation.We will assist the British police in the normal manner, with information and any requests they might have in their investigation.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.33pm BSTat 12.33pm BST
12.22pm BST12.22pm BST
12:2212:22
Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said the police have focused on five strands of work:Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said the police have focused on five strands of work:
- Interviewing the suspect- Speaking with the suspect’s family- Witness accounts- Searches- Full intelligence review of the suspect by police and the security service- Interviewing the suspect- Speaking with the suspect’s family- Witness accounts- Searches- Full intelligence review of the suspect by police and the security service
He said that they searched a property in north London this morning and are planning to search another in south London.He said that they searched a property in north London this morning and are planning to search another in south London.
12.09pm BST12.09pm BST
12:0912:09
Jamie GriersonJamie Grierson
A Norwegian national of Somali origin has been arrested on suspicion of murdering an American woman and injuring five others, including Britons, in what was described by police as a “spontaneous attack”.A Norwegian national of Somali origin has been arrested on suspicion of murdering an American woman and injuring five others, including Britons, in what was described by police as a “spontaneous attack”.
Speaking outside Scotland Yard headquarters, Metropolitan police assistant commissioner, Mark Rowley, said there was no evidence that the 19-year-old suspect had been radicalised.Speaking outside Scotland Yard headquarters, Metropolitan police assistant commissioner, Mark Rowley, said there was no evidence that the 19-year-old suspect had been radicalised.
While the investigation is not yet complete all of the work we have done so far, increasingly points to this tragic incident as having been triggered by mental health issues.While the investigation is not yet complete all of the work we have done so far, increasingly points to this tragic incident as having been triggered by mental health issues.
Indeed at this time we believe it was a spontaneous attack and the victims were selected at random.Indeed at this time we believe it was a spontaneous attack and the victims were selected at random.
Rowley said officers had interviewed the suspect and his family, and had searched addresses.Rowley said officers had interviewed the suspect and his family, and had searched addresses.
The woman murdered was an American national, Rowley said, those injured were Australian, American, Israeli and British.The woman murdered was an American national, Rowley said, those injured were Australian, American, Israeli and British.
This morning we’ve searched addresses in North London and we will search another in south London. I emphasise that so far we’ve found no evidence of radicalisation that would suggest the man in our custody is in anyway motivated by terrorism.This morning we’ve searched addresses in North London and we will search another in south London. I emphasise that so far we’ve found no evidence of radicalisation that would suggest the man in our custody is in anyway motivated by terrorism.
11.54am BST11.54am BST
11:5411:54
Rowley said none of the people in hospital have life-threatening injuries.Rowley said none of the people in hospital have life-threatening injuries.
11.52am BST
11:52
Suspect was Norwegian national
Rowley says the suspect was a Norwegian national of Somali origin. There is no evidence he was radicalised.
At this point we believe this is a spontaneous attack and the victims were selected at random.
Police believe it was as a result of mental health problems, based on interviews with the suspect and his family.
11.50am BST
11:50
Murdered woman was US citizen
The Metropolitan police assistant commissioner, Mark Rowley, is speaking outside Scotland Yard.
He says the murdered woman was from the US and the injured are British, American, Australian and Israeli.
Updated
at 11.55am BST
11.30am BST
11:30
A woman who witnessed the aftermath of the Russell Square stabbings has told the BBC how she saw a man running away from police, carrying a knife with blood on his hands. Jodie Parry was in her hotel room when she heard a commotion.
As he was running down the street he was turning to see if the police were coming close. I could hear the policeman screaming ‘stop, don’t move, don’t go any further, just stay where you are’ and he turned around and continued running. He just wasn’t prepared to stop ...He was actually carrying a knife in his hand and he had blood on his hands.
Parry said the attacker was out of her sight when he was restrained by police.
They had actually gone out of my vision at that point, but I did hear the Taser, and at that point I just heard a little scream and then it kind of went silent.
11.21am BST
11:21
The BBC has brief footage of the suspect in the Russell Square attacks being arrested:
BBC EXCLUSIVE: Eyewitness footage of Russell Square incident: pic.twitter.com/ii1muJUUh6
11.18am BST
11:18
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, making a scheduled speech in Dagenham, east London, has begun by expressing sympathy to the woman who was killed and thanking the police for their response.
Jeremy Corbyn offers his condolences for the victim of the Russell Square attack pic.twitter.com/CKONmwM8MD
11.13am BST
11:13
The forensics tent at the spot where the woman was killed in Russell Square has been taken down.
Taking down the forensics tent. Police say they want to get things back to normal as quickly as poss #Russellsquare pic.twitter.com/ixPSA15Bga
11.04am BST
11:04
The Met Police commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, has confirmed that mental health remains a “substantial focus for our investigation”. He has said his thoughts are with those affected and praised the police response as “professional and proportionate”.
My thoughts are with the family of the woman who was murdered and those who were injured. A normal night out in our busy capital has ended in horrific circumstances.
Our investigation is moving very quickly and our detectives have been working hard throughout the night. As we have already made clear, mental health remains a substantial focus for our investigation.
Every day in London, my officers patrol and carry out operations to catch criminals in the knowledge that they face risk and danger. I am proud that last night our specialist firearms officers were on the scene in six minutes and, using only a Taser, detained the subject. That demonstrates our commitment to use force in a professional and proportionate way.
Their swift response undoubtedly helped to prevent more people from getting injured.
Across our capital today you will see more police officers, armed and unarmed, to reassure the public after recent events overseas. We will protect our capital and those who live, work and visit our city.
Updated
at 11.06am BST
10.58am BST
10:58
Denis Campbell
Mental illness is a significant part of what Metropolitan Police officers deal with every day and they get 600,000 calls about it a year. They are called to far more incidents involving mental health problems than robbery or sexual offences, a report by the mental health charity Turning Point found in 2013.
On pages 11/12 the report states that:
In 2012 there were 61,258 mental health related calls; this is 21,741 more than robbery and 47,203 more than for sexual offences. The Metropolitan Police Service review also stated that it has been estimated that 15% to 25% of incidents are linked to mental health. Using this estimate the daily contact rises to a minimum of 1,626 calls per day -- the equivalent of around 600,000 calls per year.
10.53am BST
10:53
Ellie Cattle, 21, who is staying in a hotel on Bedford Place, off Russell Square, told the Press Association she heard police shouting: “Put it down, put it down.”
I looked out of my window because I heard sirens. I could see police - three police vans - coming down the road, and all I heard was them shouting ‘Put it down, put it down’.
They sounded urgent for him to put it down. Then I heard what sounded like a gunshot, but it must have been the Taser. After that they just stopped shouting. I didn’t hear any screams from anyone.
10.47am BST
10:47
Lisa O'Carroll
Alex Hall, 18, (on the right in video) said he and his friends came out of a restaurant in Russell Square and saw police trying to resuscitate a woman.
We were walking along and we saw three police cars and an ambulance. They were doing CPR on a woman lying on the ground. We thought it must have been someone having a heart attack. The police were shouting at people to get back.
The others in the video are Reuben St Ledger, 18, (middle) and George Baker, 18. All are from Sheffield.
St Ledger said they had seen the Metropolitan Police announcement that there would be an increased armed police presence in London before they visited and were not deterred.