A woman in her 60s has died and five other people have been injured after a man with “significant mental health issues” allegedly “went on the rampage” with a knife in a possible terror-related attack in central London.
Police confirmed a 19-year-old man was arrested after being Tasered in connection with a mass stabbing in front of horrified onlookers in Russell Square at about 10.30pm last night. He remains in hospital under armed guard.
Fears that the knifeman operated with an accomplice were raised in the early hours as the Met refused to rule out further suspects. One witness said he saw “a man flee on a motorbike,” while another described hearing a victim “screaming and covered in blood.” Photos show what appear to be a bladed weapon abandoned at the scene.
Officers arrived to find six people injured including one woman who died a short time later. The condition of the other five — one man and four women — is not yet known and police have not released their names or ages.
The incident occurred in the same area as where one of the 7/7 bombs detonated in 2005. A total of 26 people were killed when Germaine Lindsay, 19, detonated a suicide bomb on a Piccadilly line Tube as it moved between King’s Cross station and Russell Square.
Last night’s incident also comes just hours after the Met unveiled its brand new elite anti-terror unit.
BREAKING NEWS: Woman killed and five people injured in a ‘terrorist knife attack in central London’
Woman dead and five people injured after possible terror attack in London
Police called to Russell Square at about 10.30pm last night after ‘stabbing’
Man was Tasered and arrested at the scene after reports of him ‘with knife’
Scotland Yard said the incident is being treated as possible terror offence
By Emma Glanfield for MailOnline, 3 August 2016:
A woman has died and up to five people have been injured in a possible terrorist knife attack in central London.olice confirmed a man was arrested after being seen ‘brandishing a knife’ and ‘injuring people’ in front of horrified onlookers in Russell Square last night.
Officers arrived at the scene to find six people injured including one woman who died from her injuries a short time later. The condition of the other five is not yet known and police have not yet named or revealed the ages of the victims.
The woman’s body is still believed to be at the scene with a forensics tent covering it on the pavement. Suited forensic officers also remain at the scene collecting evidence.
One source said the suspect was seen to go ‘on the rampage’ with the weapon.
The Met said the suspect was detained after being Tasered at the scene of the incident – opposite the three-star Imperial Hotel – at around 10.40pm last night.
It is understood police have cordoned off the area and there is a heavy presence of officers and paramedics at the scene. The Met said ‘additional units’ had been deployed.
A woman has died and up to five people have been injured in a possible terrorist knife attack in Russell Square in central London, police said. Pictured: Police and paramedics at the scene
Paul Hutchinson, a taxi driver, said he passed the incident in the aftermath.He said: ‘You drove past Russell Square and the road wasn’t shut but the pavement was all taped off by police, lots of armed police, lots of cars and the body was just lying on the floor. You could see the boots sticking out from under the cloth.
‘Loads of armed police, cars with lights on and the body on the floor.’
Scotland Yard confirmed the incident is being treated as a possible terror offence.
A spokesman said: ‘Police were called at 10.33pm to reports of a man seen in possession of a knife injuring people at Russell Square, WC1.
‘Officers attended the scene along with the London Ambulance Service.
‘Up to six people were found injured at the location.
‘A female was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead a short time later.
‘We await an update on the condition of the other persons injured and details of any other injuries.’
Police added that the man was arrested at the scene six minutes after the incident.
The spokesman added: ‘A man was arrested at 10.39pm and a Taser was discharged by one of the arresting officers.
‘Terrorism is one possibility being explored at this stage.’
The incident occurred in the same area as where one of the 7/7 bombs detonated in 2005. And it comes just hours after the Met unveiled more armed officers in the capital.Additional police units have been deployed to the area to provide reassurance.
Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
