This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2016/aug/04/london-stabbing-russell-square-knife-attack-live
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| London stabbings: mental health ‘significant factor’ in Russell Square attack, say police – live | London stabbings: mental health ‘significant factor’ in Russell Square attack, say police – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.03am BST | |
| 09:03 | |
| Suspect out of hospital | |
| The 19-year-old suspect has been discharged from hospital - he was Tasered during the incident -and is now in custody at a south London police station, the Met police have said. | |
| He has also been formally arrested on suspicion of murder. | |
| A Met police spokesman said: | |
| We continue to focus our lines of inquiry on mental health while retaining an open mind regarding the motive. | |
| 8.51am BST | |
| 08:51 | |
| Damien Gayle | |
| These two police officers carrying semi-automatic carbines were keeping guard outside the National Gallery, in Trafalgar Square, in central London. | |
| “We deal with everything from having strong words with someone to lethal force,” one said. | |
| There will be many armed police around central London, they said. Policing will focus on crowded areas with a lot of footfall where an attacker could do most damage. | |
| Aside from the guns strapped to their chest, both officers also carried flock pistols, Taser stun guns, CS spray and batons. | |
| 8.36am BST | |
| 08:36 | |
| Amateur film maker Stuart Kenny witnessed the incident (seemingly from a hotel window) | |
| I think there's been an incident outside the Imperial Hotel on Russell Square in London. :( #London pic.twitter.com/t0plUsWM1p | |
| Just to clarify folks, I didn't see anything. Me and my Dad heard screams, we thought it was kids mucking around, until we looked outside. | |
| 8.27am BST | 8.27am BST |
| 08:27 | 08:27 |
| A number of the cordons around the scene of the attack have now been lifted: | A number of the cordons around the scene of the attack have now been lifted: |
| Detectives continue to investigate incident in #RussellSquare most cordons have now been lifted. One partial road closure remains in place | Detectives continue to investigate incident in #RussellSquare most cordons have now been lifted. One partial road closure remains in place |
| 8.25am BST | 8.25am BST |
| 08:25 | 08:25 |
| The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has expressed his shock at last night’s events. | The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has expressed his shock at last night’s events. |
| Shocking attack in London last night. Thoughts are with family and friends of the victims | Shocking attack in London last night. Thoughts are with family and friends of the victims |
| 8.23am BST | 8.23am BST |
| 08:23 | 08:23 |
| Are you affected by the events in Russell Square? You can share your eyewitness accounts, photos and videos or news tips direct with our journalists by clicking on the blue button. You can also share your stories, photos and videos with the Guardian via WhatsApp by adding the contact +44(0)7867825056. | Are you affected by the events in Russell Square? You can share your eyewitness accounts, photos and videos or news tips direct with our journalists by clicking on the blue button. You can also share your stories, photos and videos with the Guardian via WhatsApp by adding the contact +44(0)7867825056. |
| 8.20am BST | 8.20am BST |
| 08:20 | 08:20 |
| Three people discharged from hospital | Three people discharged from hospital |
| Three of the people injured in the attack have been discharged from hospital. Two remain in hospital. | Three of the people injured in the attack have been discharged from hospital. Two remain in hospital. |
| Two people who were injured in the #RussellSquare incident remain in hospital. Three others have been discharged. Further update to follow | Two people who were injured in the #RussellSquare incident remain in hospital. Three others have been discharged. Further update to follow |
| 8.17am BST | 8.17am BST |
| 08:17 | 08:17 |
| The Metropolitan police have put out a renewed call for witnesses: | The Metropolitan police have put out a renewed call for witnesses: |
| We continue to appeal for witnesses following the incident in #RussellSquare anyone with any info is asked to contact 020 8721 4868 | We continue to appeal for witnesses following the incident in #RussellSquare anyone with any info is asked to contact 020 8721 4868 |
| 8.04am BST | 8.04am BST |
| 08:04 | 08:04 |
| Lisa O'Carroll | Lisa O'Carroll |
| Pol O’ Geibheannaigh told Sky News: | Pol O’ Geibheannaigh told Sky News: |
| I was approaching the [Night and Day] bar coming back from the cinema about 11.15pm. Close to the corner of Russell Square, the first thing I saw was an armed policeman and I looked down the street and it was just wall to wall police and police vans. Then about 100m from the corner of the square there was a body covered in a red blanket with dark matter around it which I assumed to be blood and more police arrived more police, no ambulances. At the time it was intense, really intense. | I was approaching the [Night and Day] bar coming back from the cinema about 11.15pm. Close to the corner of Russell Square, the first thing I saw was an armed policeman and I looked down the street and it was just wall to wall police and police vans. Then about 100m from the corner of the square there was a body covered in a red blanket with dark matter around it which I assumed to be blood and more police arrived more police, no ambulances. At the time it was intense, really intense. |
| There was no ambulance there. I counted the vans, there were 20 to 30 vans. I was looking for the ambulance, there was no ambulance. | There was no ambulance there. I counted the vans, there were 20 to 30 vans. I was looking for the ambulance, there was no ambulance. |
| Then I found out from the bar staff that a woman had been fatally wounded. Then when police came into the bar to interview people, they said a woman had been wounded. There were others they were taking off up to Bedford Square. | Then I found out from the bar staff that a woman had been fatally wounded. Then when police came into the bar to interview people, they said a woman had been wounded. There were others they were taking off up to Bedford Square. |
| He said the incident brought memories of 7/7 flooding back - as the bus that had been blown up in that terrorist attack had been just up the road. | He said the incident brought memories of 7/7 flooding back - as the bus that had been blown up in that terrorist attack had been just up the road. |
| 7.43am BST | 7.43am BST |
| 07:43 | 07:43 |
| John McDonnell, Labour’s shadow chancellor, has been speaking to Sky News. | John McDonnell, Labour’s shadow chancellor, has been speaking to Sky News. |
| He says he supports the increased police presence on the streets of London. | He says he supports the increased police presence on the streets of London. |
| The Met has said that more officers, including armed officers, will patrol the capital today. | The Met has said that more officers, including armed officers, will patrol the capital today. |
| 7.36am BST | 7.36am BST |
| 07:36 | 07:36 |
| Nadia Khomami | Nadia Khomami |
| Russell Square remains cordoned off by police this morning. | Russell Square remains cordoned off by police this morning. |
| Phillipa Bagley is visiting London and was staying at the President hotel last night: | Phillipa Bagley is visiting London and was staying at the President hotel last night: |
| The bar of the President comes out on to the square. I just came down for a cigarette and saw there was a man with a motorbike helmet balanced on his head walking up and down, then the police came. | The bar of the President comes out on to the square. I just came down for a cigarette and saw there was a man with a motorbike helmet balanced on his head walking up and down, then the police came. |
| There was about six or seven people standing around. I thought there had been an accident, I had no idea anyone had been stabbed. I found out this morning. I was shocked. | There was about six or seven people standing around. I thought there had been an accident, I had no idea anyone had been stabbed. I found out this morning. I was shocked. |
| We just came to London for a couple of days for my birthday. I didn’t think about anything like this, I’m not a great worrier. On second thoughts, in the future … | We just came to London for a couple of days for my birthday. I didn’t think about anything like this, I’m not a great worrier. On second thoughts, in the future … |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.38am BST | at 7.38am BST |
| 7.07am BST | 7.07am BST |
| 07:07 | 07:07 |
| What we know so far | What we know so far |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| Early indications suggest mental health is a significant factor in this case and that is one major line of inquiry. | 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. | 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. |