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London stabbing: police say mental health ‘significant factor’ in Russell Square attack – live London stabbing: mental health ‘significant factor’ in Russell Square attack, say police – live
(35 minutes later)
7.07am BST
07:07
What we know so far
Claire Phipps
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.
6.57am BST
06:57
Sadiq Khan: 'remain calm and vigilant'
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, says police are doing an “incredibly difficult job” and the safety of Londoners is his “number one priority”.
He says police officers have spoken to the suspect, who was arrested at the scene and is in hospital.
I have spoken with the commissioner, and the assistant commissioner, who have assured me that our police officers are working extremely hard to investigate exactly what has happened and to keep the rest of us safe.
A man was arrested at the scene. Police have spoken to him and are seeking to establish the full facts including motives for this attack.
I urge all Londoners to remain calm and vigilant. Please report anything suspicious to the police. We all have a vital role to play as eyes and ears for our police and security services and in helping to ensure London is protected.
Khan says his “heart goes out to the victims of the incident in Russell Square and their loved ones”.
6.54am BST
06:54
Forensic tent at the spot in London's Russell Square where woman stabbed to death and others injured in knife attack pic.twitter.com/gSTvyocl6s
6.49am BST6.49am BST
06:4906:49
Khan added that his “heart goes out to the victims of the incident in Russell Square and their loved ones”.Khan added that his “heart goes out to the victims of the incident in Russell Square and their loved ones”.
One woman died, and five other people were injured in the stabbing.One woman died, and five other people were injured in the stabbing.
6.37am BST6.37am BST
06:3706:37
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has urged Londoners to remain “calm and vigilant”.The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has urged Londoners to remain “calm and vigilant”.
The Metropolitan police has said there will be an increased police presence, including armed officers, on the streets of the capital today.The Metropolitan police has said there will be an increased police presence, including armed officers, on the streets of the capital today.
6.30am BST6.30am BST
06:3006:30
As the day begins, Russell Square remains quiet, Press Association reports:As the day begins, Russell Square remains quiet, Press Association reports:
A heavy police presence and cordon remained in place on Thursday morning, with a forensics tent marking the spot where the woman was killed.A heavy police presence and cordon remained in place on Thursday morning, with a forensics tent marking the spot where the woman was killed.
A private ambulance was seen removing the body at around 5.20am, after forensics officers had finished scouring the scene for evidence.A private ambulance was seen removing the body at around 5.20am, after forensics officers had finished scouring the scene for evidence.
Businesses surrounding Russell Square remained closed, with normally busy coffee shops shut to customers as the investigations continued.Businesses surrounding Russell Square remained closed, with normally busy coffee shops shut to customers as the investigations continued.
6.05am BST6.05am BST
06:0506:05
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said:A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said:
We were called at 10.33pm last night to an incident in Russell Square, WC1.We were called at 10.33pm last night to an incident in Russell Square, WC1.
We sent a number of staff to the scene, including four ambulance crews, a responder in a car, an advanced paramedic and two officers.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 medical team of a doctor and paramedic from London’s air ambulance also attended by car.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.Our first staff arrived at the scene within seven minutes.
Sadly, despite extensive treatment one woman was pronounced dead at the scene.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.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.
5.50am BST5.50am BST
05:5005:50
5.26am BST5.26am BST
05:2605:26
Vikram DoddVikram Dodd
Extra police patrols will be on London’s streets on Thursday morning following the knife attack. These will include armed officers, with the extra patrols meant to reassure the public, but also visibly demonstrating to the Met’s political bosses they can deal with the challenges terrorism – which is not a confirmed motive in the Russell Square attack – presents.Extra police patrols will be on London’s streets on Thursday morning following the knife attack. These will include armed officers, with the extra patrols meant to reassure the public, but also visibly demonstrating to the Met’s political bosses they can deal with the challenges terrorism – which is not a confirmed motive in the Russell Square attack – presents.
Assistant commissioner Mark Rowley said:Assistant commissioner Mark 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.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 UK’s terrorism threat level remains at severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.The UK’s terrorism threat level remains at severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.
5.18am BST5.18am BST
05:1805:18
Here is video of Mark Rowley, assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan police, giving his earlier statement on the stabbing, the victims and the 19-year-old who remains under arrest in hospital:Here is video of Mark Rowley, assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan police, giving his earlier statement on the stabbing, the victims and the 19-year-old who remains under arrest in hospital:
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
5.06am BST5.06am BST
05:0605:06
Two women, three men injuredTwo women, three men injured
A new statement from the Metropolitan police now says that two women and three men (and not one woman and four men, as earlier reported) were the five people injured in the attack.A new statement from the Metropolitan police now says that two women and three men (and not one woman and four men, as earlier reported) were the five people injured in the attack.
This is in addition to the woman who died at the scene.This is in addition to the woman who died at the scene.
The statement gives no further information on their injuries.The statement gives no further information on their injuries.
4.49am BST
04:49
Vikram Dodd
Although police say terrorism is just one possible line of enquiry in the Russell Square attack, its comes amid heightened fear of a terrorist attack in the UK. On Sunday, Britain’s most senior police officer, Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, said an attack was a matter of when not if.
UK security officials have watched in alarm as France has suffered repeated attacks, as well as Germany, and believe a similar incident in the UK is verging on inevitable.
Since August 2014 the UK terrorist threat level has been raised to its second highest level of severe. The government said the heightened alert was “related to developments in Syria and Iraq, where terrorist groups are planning attacks against the west” – a reference to Isis.
4.35am BST
04:35
The Met made knife crime a focus earlier this year, when it released statistics that showed it had been called to more than 9,000 stabbing-related incidents in London in the year ending April 2016.
More than 1,620 victims were under the age of 25, including 866 teenagers. Twelve victims had been killed.
The release coincided with the launch of its campaign video, Choose a life not a knife.
At the time, London mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC he was “extremely worried”:
We’ve got to make sure that we try and prevent young people from carrying knives in the first place. Every time a young person carries a knife is a sign of failure.
He said the Met police commissioner agreed with him that tackling knife crime must be “one of our top priorities”.
Annual crime figures published in April showed that knife crime rose by 9% in England and Wales in 2015.
4.21am BST
04:21
At present, we have very few details about the suspect or the victims.
The woman who died was in her 60s, police said.
Of the five people who were injured, one is female and four are male. There is no confirmation of the severity of their injuries.
The man who was arrested is 19 years old. He is in police custody in hospital, having been Tasered by an officer at the scene of the knife attack.
No names have been released by investigators.
4.04am BST
04:04
Vikram Dodd
Mark Rowley, who gave the latest police statement (see below), is Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism officer. He serves as an assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan police and leads its specialist operations division, which is the home for the counter-terrorism command.
What leads police to consider terrorism as a possibility is not publicly being discussed. Police in the UK tend to be less open than, say, their counterparts in the United States.
In the past, police have classed incidents in the UK as terrorist because of what was said by a suspect at the scene, or because of material recovered from a suspect’s phone or computer, or because the suspect was known to them as potentially associated with violent extremism.
The definition of terrorism in England and Wales is contained in section one of the Terrorism Act of 2000. It is the use of violence to advance a political, ideological or religious cause.
3.59am BST
03:59
Metropolitan police statement
Police were called just after 10.30pm last night [Wednesday] to reports of a man armed with a knife assaulting people at at Russell Square, Camden.
Armed officers arrived at the scene within five minutes. They discharged the Taser while confronting and arresting the suspect.
Six people have been injured, including the one woman who sadly died at the scene and the others have received various injuries. The deceased woman is in her 60s but it would be inappropriate at this time for me to give any more personal details about her.
A 19-year-old man was arrested shortly after 10.39pm and is currently in police custody at hospital.
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. This is there to provide reassurance and safety. We ask the public to remain calm and vigilant and alert.
3.48am BST
03:48
The victims
The woman who died was in her 60s, police said, giving no further information.
Five people – one woman and four men – have received “various injuries”.
Armed officers were at the scene within five minutes of being alerted to the attack, when they Tasered and arrested the suspect.
Homicide officers are currently leading the investigation, supported by counter-terrorism officers.
There will be an increased police presence from Thursday morning on the streets of London, “for reassurance and safety”, police said.
3.46am BST
03:46
Police: 'mental health a significant factor'
We have just had an update from the police.
A 19-year-old man was Tasered by officers and is in custody in hospital.
Police say:
Mental health is a significant factor in this case.
But they are keeping an open mind regarding motive:
Terrorism remains one line of inquiry for us to explore.
3.42am BST
03:42
My colleague Richard Barnes is at Russell Square and sends this update. It is currently 3.40am in London:
Just after 2am at the opposite end of Bedford Place, which runs away from the south side of Russell Square, a police officer was stopping people entering the road, which was cordoned off with police tape. Pointing up towards the square he said “seven people had been stabbed”, and that the suspect had been caught just behind him – where two forensic team officers in protective suits were going about their work – and was now in custody.
He was unable to give any more information either about the victims, the suspect, or what the motive might have been.
At about 2.30am the police were just closing off the east side of Russell Square at Southampton Row, quite a busy main road. The south side of the square was already closed off with police in vehicles at both ends. Bedford Place was also closed although they appeared to be letting residents in and out.
3.37am BST
03:37
We are expecting a statement from police shortly.
Vikram Dodd, the Guardian’s police and crime correspondent, reports that counter-terrorism officers are now involved in the investigation:
Scotland Yard’s counter terrorism command, known as SO15, are involved in the investigation.
At first officers from the local borough responded and made the arrest following the detention of the suspect.
But as detail emerged, the decision was made to have the counter-terrorism command involved in the investigation.
In a sign of the seriousness with which the incident was being treated by the Met, senior officers had been called into work, including chiefs in the Met’s counter terrorism command.
A new statement is expected from police, after a first giving only sparse details.
3.33am BST
03:33
Terrorism 'one possibility' in mass stabbing
A mass stabbing in central London has left one woman dead and up to six people wounded after a man with a knife attacked people in Russell Square.
Police said the attack took place at around 10.30pm on Wednesday night.
The woman was treated at the scene but pronounced dead a short time later.
A man has been arrested.
Metropolitan police are expected to hold a press conference shortly, but said that terrorism was “one possibility being explored”.
We’ll have more details as they come to light.