At least five people were injured in East London after a man is alleged to have driven a van into a residential building before drawing a sword and attacking people, including police officers.
Five people were taken to hospital, including two police officers, in the early hours of Tuesday morning after a swordsman went on an apparently rampage near Hainault station in East London. While the government had appealed to the public not to speculate and not to share footage on social media, copious video and stills showing a light-skinned male holding a long, curved blade — described in some reports as being a “samurai sword” type — squaring off with police.
Police tape around a van on Laing Close in Hainault, east London following reported stabbings and attacks on police officers. A sword-wielding man has been arrested after witnesses spoke of shrieks and screams following reported stabbings and attacks. Five people were taken to hospital following the incident at around 7am on Tuesday, London Ambulance Service said. Picture date: Tuesday April 30, 2024. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Images)
Police say they arrested a 36 year old man, and that four people were stabbed. They say there is no indication the incident is terrorism related.
They said in a statement: “a vehicle being driven into a house in the Thurlow Gardens area… at this time we understand the suspect went on to attack other members of the public and two police officers. We are awaiting an update on the condition of those injured”.
The incident has elicited an unusually high number of remarks from political figures. The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “This is a shocking incident. My thoughts are with those affected and their families.
“I’d like to thank the emergency services for their ongoing response, and pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery shown by police on the scene. Such violence has no place on our streets.”
