A tragic incident occurred in north-east London, resulting in the death of a 14-year-old boy after an attacker, armed with a sword, went on a violent spree.
The assault took place in Hainault around 07:00 BST, prompting a rapid response from emergency services.
Police were alerted to a report of a car crashing into a house and a series of stabbings.
Despite being swiftly transported to the hospital, the young victim succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect, a 36-year-old man, injured four other people, including two police officers, before being subdued with a Taser in a front garden.
The individual had been leaping over garden fences as he evaded capture, but was eventually cornered.
Following his arrest, the suspect was taken to a hospital to receive treatment for injuries sustained during the car crash.
Due to his condition, he had not yet been questioned by authorities.
Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe stated that the suspect had no prior interactions with the police, and footage on social media showed a man wielding a long knife in Laing Close.
Ch Supt Stuart Bell mentioned that the two injured police officers required surgery, with their wounds described as “significant” but not life-threatening.
The other two injured civilians also sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.
Ch Supt Bell clarified that the incident was not considered terror-related and was not thought to be a targeted attack.
The police did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the wider public and were not seeking additional suspects.
Several witnesses recounted their experiences during the incident.
James Fernando, 39, described seeing the suspect ask a neighbor to take his phone and inform someone of his location.
When the neighbor noticed the sword, she ran, shouting to warn another neighbor—a boy on his way to school—who was struck by the attacker.
Another witness, Chris Bates, detailed the suspect’s movements as he ran through gardens and onto the street, eventually being Tasered and taken down by the police.
Manpreet Singh, who was at the scene, recalled hearing chaos and seeing a group of people attempting to fight off a man armed with a sword.
He described the arrival of police cars and the eventual capture of the suspect.
During the incident, Hainault London Underground station was closed, and local bus routes were redirected.
Ch Supt Bell expressed sympathy for the boy’s family, noting they were being supported by specialist officers during this “unimaginably difficult time.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak both expressed their condolences and condemned the violence, with Khan saying that additional uniformed officers would be deployed in the area.
Wes Streeting, the MP for Ilford North, praised the emergency services for their “courageous response” and acknowledged the profound impact this tragedy would have on the community.
Rick Prior, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, remarked that this incident serves as a reminder of the dangers officers face daily to ensure public safety, adding that their courage is “incredible.”
