A 36-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday morning in Hainault, east London, after attacking passers-by with a sword, killing a 13-year-old boy and injuring four, in an incident which “does not appear to be linked to the terrorism” according to the police. “It is with great sadness that I can confirm that one of those injured in the attack, a (14) year-old boy, has died,” police chief Stuart Bell said in a press statement. .
In a press release, the police said they were called “shortly before 7 a.m.” near a metro station, with witnesses saying that “people had been stabbed”. “A man with a sword was arrested,” she added, specifying that, according to testimonies collected on site, the suspect attacked passers-by “and two police officers”.
14,577 attacks recorded in London
The London Ambulance Service clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that it had “taken care of five people” taken to hospital. “We are awaiting information on the condition of the injured people,” the police said. Images posted on social media and picked up by British media show a white, lightly bearded man, dressed in black pants and a yellow hoodie, sword in hand, walking erratically in front of houses, while police cars surround the scene.
We were called at 6.54am this morning to an incident near Hainault Underground Station.
We feel 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
Witnesses said they heard “screaming.” “We do not believe that the threat persists” in the neighborhood and “we are not looking for other suspects,” said Ade Adelekan, a police official quoted in the press release. “This incident does not appear to be linked to terrorism,” he added. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was “absolutely devastated” by the attack. “The area has been secured… and additional reassurance patrols will be carried out in the area.”
Knife and sword attacks are on the rise in the United Kingdom and are widely publicized. According to official figures, they increased by 7% last year to almost 50,000 in England and Wales. In London, they soared by 20% with 14,577 attacks recorded, returning more or less to their level before the Covid-19 pandemic. Last week Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak denounced the security policy of the Mayor of London, while local elections are due to be held on Thursday.