A 13-year-old boy died on Tuesday after five people, including two police officers, were wounded by a man wielding a sword in east London,” police said, adding that the accused has been arrested.
“It’s with great sadness that one of those injured in this incident, a 13-year-old boy, has died from their injuries,” Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, from the Metropolitan Police, told reporters.
Hainault stabbing ; At least four people are reported to have been stabbed at Hainault in north-east London shortly before 08:00 on TuesdayThe Metropolitan Police said a man has been arrested. pic.twitter.com/a7N512CPyc
— WeGotitBack (@NotFarLeftAtAll) April 30, 2024
The force said it was called just before 7:00 am (0600 GMT) after a vehicle drove into a house and reports that “people have been stabbed”. “At this time we understand the suspect went on to attack other members of the public and two police officers,” a statement read. “We are awaiting an update on the condition of those injured.”
London Ambulance Service said its teams treated five people and took them all to hospital. There was no immediate word on their condition. The Met, which polices an area of 620 square miles (1,605 square kilometres) of Greater London, said a 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene.
We were called at 6.54am this morning to an incident near Hainault Underground Station.We sent multiple resources to the scene. Working together with our emergency services partners, we treated five people and took all five to hospital.
Our crews have now left the scene. https://t.co/SNyxwT4MuM
— London Ambulance Service (@Ldn_Ambulance) April 30, 2024
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: “This incident does not appear to be terror-related.”
Video footage and photographs posted on social media appeared to show a man on the streets near houses with what looked to be a Samurai-type sword.
Emergency service vehicles, including police, fire and ambulances, were seen behind cordons, including near the town’s Underground station.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “absolutely devastated” at hearing of the incident and was in close contact with the Met Police commissioner.
“The police offices and emergency services showed the best of our city — running towards danger to protect others and I thank them from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
Last week, Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak criticised the Labour mayor’s record on knife crime in the British capital.
According to official statistics, knife crime increased in London by 20 percent in 2023, with 14,577 offences — one percent lower than pre-pandemic levels in the year to March 2020.
In England and Wales as a whole, there was a seven-percent increase in knife crime to 49,489 offences, with most (29 percent) in metropolitan areas, the Official for National Statistics said.
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