Police have arrested a 36-year-old man who has allegedly stabbed many people in near the Hainault tube station in north-east London.
Metropolitan Police have arrested a man with a sword after he stabbed several people near a tube station in Hainault in north-east London. As per police officials, the sword-wielding man went on the "stabbing spree" and killed a teenage boy while stabbing two police personnel and two other people on Tuesday.
The suspect was arrested by the police after a brief standoff and taken into custody. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Home Secretary James Cleverly, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and other officials have condemned the "shocking incident".
According to a AFP report, a police officer said, "It's with great sadness that one of those injured in this incident, a 13-year-old boy, has died from their injuries."
He added, "He was taken to hospital after being stabbed and sadly died a short while after."
Police officials further added that the suspect is a 36-year-old man. The man attacked public and two police officers. The injured have been transported to the nearest hospitals for urgent treatment.
"Police and other emergency services are in Hainault, east London, t a serious incident in which a man with a sword has been arrested. We were called shortly before 7am to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house in the Thurlow Gardens area. There were reports people have been stabbed," read an official statement issued by the Metropolitan police.
Due to the incident and ongoing investigation, London transport confirmed that the Hainault tube station has been closed.
Upon learning of the horrific stabbing incident, UK PM Rishi Sunak took to social media platform X and condemned the "shocking incident"
Stating that "such violence has no place on our streets," the Indian-origin prime minister thanked the emergency services for their immediate and ongoing response to the incident.
UK Home Secretary James Cleverly also took to X and urged people to "not speculate or share any footage online" and instead provide all leads to the police.
The police has stated that the "Stabbing spree" did not “appear to be terror-related” and confirmed that five people had been injured.
"This must have been a terrifying incident for those concerned. I know the wider community will be feeling shock and alarm. People will want to know what has happened and we will provide more information as soon as we can,” stated Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan.
London's mayor Sadiq Khan also condemned the act and praised the emergency services for their quick response. "The police 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," read an official statement issued by the mayor.
Wes Streeting, the Labour MP for the area also thanked the "heroic" police officers who were injured during the response to the "horrific incident".
"My prayers are with those who've been injured and their loved ones. I know there will be widespread fear and alarm in our community,” stated the MP.