A 14-year-old boy has died after multiple stabbings in east London and a sword-wielding suspect remains in custody after being tasered and arrested on suspicion of murder.
Four other people were injured in the attack in Hainault, and the suspect is in hospital after sustaining injuries when his van hit a house, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said.
Two Met officers suffered wounds that require surgery, with Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell describing their injuries as “significant” but not life-threatening, and injuries sustained by two members of the public are also not deemed to be life-threatening.
Here is what we know so far:
– What happened?
Witnesses said shouting could be heard in the Thurlow Gardens area of Hainault at about 6.50am.
The Metropolitan Police said a vehicle had been driven into a house in the area and were called at around 7am.
Five people were taken to hospital after the attack.
A 14-year-old boy was taken to hospital after being stabbed and died shortly after, Mr Bell said on Tuesday afternoon.
The Metropolitan Police said two officers suffered “significant” wounds after responding to the scene, while two other members of the public also sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.
A neighbour from Laing Close, who witnessed the attacks, James Fernando, 39, said the suspect had asked one of his neighbours to “take the telephone from him to tell whoever was on the phone his location”.
He told the PA news agency: “Within two seconds after that she’s realised something isn’t right, started running and he’s pulled a samurai sword from the back of his trouser.
“She’s shouted to the other neighbour – a Nigerian boy who was on his way to school.
“As he’s turned around, he’s struck him on the face… he was dead on the spot.”
Footage seen by PA shows a man in a yellow jumper chasing after an ambulance in Laing Close while holding a sword as a body lies motionless on the ground.
In other video obtained by PA, footage captured the suspect being cornered and tasered by officers on a residential driveway.
Mr Bell said he did not believe it was a targeted attack, and it is not believed to be terror-related.
– Where and when did it happen?
The attacks happened in Hainault, east London.
Hainault is in Ilford, in the London Borough of Redbridge.
Police were called to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house in the Thurlow Gardens area at around 7am on Tuesday.
The force said there were reports of people being stabbed during the incident.
Footage seen by PA shows a man with a weapon in Laing Close, which is two streets away from Thurlow Gardens.
– What do we know about the attacker?
A man wearing a yellow hooded top can be seen in video footage climbing over a fence on to a residential driveway.
Clutching the sword in his right hand, he makes his way across the driveway as officers step out of a nearby marked car.
The man is tasered and then arrested.
Police said a 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene but has not yet been interviewed because of his injuries.
Ms Rolfe said the suspect is in hospital after sustaining injuries when his van hit a house.
She added that there has been speculation about the suspect’s background, including police contact with him, and “despite urgent and extensive checks today, we have found no trace of a prior incident involving him so far, but we will of course continue to make those inquiries”.
– What do we know about the victims?
Five people were taken to hospital after the attack in Hainault, London Ambulance Service (LAS) said.
A 14-year-old boy died after being stabbed, Mr Bell said on Tuesday afternoon.
Two Met officers suffered wounds that require surgery, with Mr Bell describing their injuries as “significant” but not life-threatening, and injuries sustained by two members of the public are also not deemed to be life-threatening.
The victims have not yet been named.
– What has been said?
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “Following the horrific scenes in Hainault this morning, the King has asked to be kept fully informed as details of the incident become clearer.
“His thoughts and prayers are with all those affected – in particular, the family of the young victim who has lost his life – and he salutes the courage of the emergency services who helped contain the situation.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the incident as “shocking”, adding: “Such violence has no place on our streets”.
Mr Sunak paid tribute to the bravery of emergency services who responded to the attack in Hainault.
Speaking at the Society of Editors conference in central London, he said: “I’d like to give my thanks to the emergency teams that are responding and to pay tribute to their bravery.”
Home Secretary James Cleverly posted on X saying: “I am being regularly updated about the incident at Hainault Station this morning.
“My thoughts are with those who have been affected & thank you to the emergency responders.
“I would urge people not to speculate or share footage online and provide relevant information to the police.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was “absolutely devastated” by the attack in Hainault and thanked the emergency services for “running towards danger”.
He said: “I remain in constant contact with the commissioner. A man has been arrested and the area secured. The police are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident. There will be additional reassurance patrols in the area.
“The police officers 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.
“I would urge people not to speculate until the details of this incident are confirmed by the police and avoid posting footage on social media.
“If you have any information at all, please contact the police urgently on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111. There is no honour in staying silent.
“Those affected in the local area, including witnesses, can also call Victim Support on 0808 1689 111.”
Shadow health secretary and the MP for Ilford North, Wes Streeting, said the boy’s family have his “deepest heartfelt condolences”.
He thanked the emergency services for their “courageous” response, adding: “In particular, the heroic Metropolitan Police officers who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others.
“They are the best of us, and I know the injuries sustained by the police officers involved will have really affected our whole Metropolitan Police force. So I want to thank all of those officers who are very visible in our community today.”