A 13-year-old boy has been killed and four others injured in a ‘terrifying sword attack’ in east London this morning.
Two police officers and three members of the public were rushed to hospital after reports a car had driven into a home in Hainault, east London, shortly before 7am on Tuesday.
Metropolitan Police confirmed in a statement this afternoon that the 13-year-old boy died in hospital and that the two officers require surgery for serious injuries.
A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident which police do not believe is terror related.
Speaking at a press conference near the scene, Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell said: ‘You will be aware that a serious incident occurred here at this location this morning. Police and ambulance services were called and deployed to a number of casualties.
‘It is with great sadness that I confirm one of those injured in the incident, a 13-year-old boy, has died from their injuries.
‘He was taken to hospital after being stabbed and sadly died a short while after. The child’s family are being supported firstly by my local officers and now with some specialist officers.’
A man ‘wielding a machete’ was seen ‘prowling the streets of east London’
Footage posted on social media appears to show a sword-wielding knifeman wearing a yellow hoodie being approached by officers
The major emergency service response in Hainault this morning – crews rushed to the scene of a multiple stabbing
Mr Bell said the suspect had been tasered at the scene and arrested 22 minutes after the first call to police was made.
He said: ‘A 36-year-old is currently in custody. He was Tasered here at the scene and arrested 22 minutes after the first call was made to police shortly before 7am this morning.
‘I want to confirm at present that we do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the wider public and we’re not seeking any other persons.
‘The incident does not appear to be linked to any act of terrorism.
‘We know now that during the incident five people were injured – three members of the public and two of my local officers who were responding to the call.
‘Two of those members of the public remain in hospital. Thankfully their injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
‘The two Met Police officers are also currently in hospital with stab wounds. Both require surgery and have significant injuries, but we believe at this stage that they were not life threatening.
‘I commend the incredible bravery of not just the police officers but the other emergency responders who came to this scene this morning.’
Horrifying footage posted on social media appears to show a sword-wielding suspect wearing a yellow hoodie as he prowled the streets and crouched beside homes.
Metropolitan Police later confirmed a 36-year-old man had been arrested. They are not looking for more suspects in relation to the ordeal and the attack ‘does not appear to be terror-related’, police said.
Locals told MailOnline how they woke to sounds of ‘piercing screams’ and a man ‘covered in blood’ outside their homes in the Thurlow Gardens area.
Daniel Garfinkle, who lives outside the station, said: ‘I woke up at 7am to lots of shouting. There was a guy outside covered in blood, near the station and outside my home.
‘Police were trying to calm down the man who carried out the stabbing. But he went towards the station. He kept shouting.’
Emergency services outside Hainault tube station this morning
Another local said: ‘There was at least one man lying in a pool of blood. It was horrific.
‘There were these terrible screams I woke to piercing screams, people said it was with a machete.’
A different local told The Sun that he saw a man covered in blood standing by his front door.
Peter Rollison said: ‘I live in Laing Close and made my way to Hainault Station this morning.
‘There were a lot of police cars around the corner from me. I stopped from a distance to look at all the commotion, then continued with my journey.
‘There was a man in his home with his door open, his hand and arm covered in blood.’
A univeristy law student has also told of told how the ‘Hainault swordsman’ resisted arrest when he was surrounded by police in a quiet residential road.
Evelina Deliu said: ‘I was woken up by loud noise outside my bedroom window.
‘I saw this man in next door garden cowering on the ground by the banana tree.
‘There were police all around him. He was struggling with them.
‘The police were shouting ‘get down, get down!’
‘It took six or seven people to get him down.
‘There was a lady (police officer) with them.
‘They were trying to tie him up and put him in hand cuffs.
‘But he was moving his legs and trying to get out.
‘The police were shouting ‘dont resist, don’t resist!’
‘They had to carry him to the car because he was tied up.
‘Then the police started picking things up and putting them in evidence bags.’
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Hainault stabbings were ‘shocking’, adding that ‘such violence has no place on our streets’.
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 said his thoughts are with those ‘affected’ by the horror incident in east London this morning.
He posted on X: ‘I am being regularly updated about the incident at Hainault Station this morning.
‘My thoughts are with those who have been affected and thank you to the emergency responders I would urge people not to speculate or share footage online and provide relevant information to the police.’
A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said they traeted five people for injuries at the scene – before rushing them to hospital.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was ‘devastated’ by the news of the attack and thanked the emergency services for ‘running towards danger’.
He said: ‘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.
Police raced to the ‘serious incident’ involving a man with a sword shortly before 7am after reports of a vehicle being driven into a home and multiple stabbings.
Hainault tube station has been locked down while the condition of those injured in the attack remains unknown.
Transport for London has urged people to avoid the area and to replan their journey accordingly.
Police tape around a van on Laing Close in Hainault, east London following reported stabbings
‘At this time we understand the suspect went on to attack other members of the public and two police officers,’ the Met Police said in a statement.
‘We are awaiting an update on the condition of those injured. A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene and he is in custody.’
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan added: ‘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 will we provide more information as soon as we can.’
People were seen gathering on the road outside Hainault Tube station and a helicopter circling overhead.
Redbridge Borough Police also confirmed on X that they were responding to an incident in the Hainault area.
They advised people to follow police instructions and that a man had been arrested.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: ‘Firefighters were mobilised to assist police and London Ambulance Service colleagues at an incident near Hainault Underground Station.
Police cars spotted on a road near to Hainault tube station today
Several police cars and fire engines have been spotted outside the station in east London
Police officers gather outside the tube station in east London as they respond to a ‘serious incident’
People were seen gathering on the road outside Hainault tube station and a helicopter circling overhead
Redbridge Borough Police confirmed on X that they were responding to an incident in the Hainault area
Police tape around a van on Laing Close in Hainault, east London following reported stabbings
‘Crews supported London Ambulance Service crews in the provision of immediate emergency care.
‘The Brigade was called at 7.35am and the incident was over for firefighters by 9.24am.
‘Fire crews from Dagenham, Walthamstow, Ilford, Romford, Hainault, East Ham and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.’
Wes Streeting MP posted on X: ‘A critical incident has been declared in Hainault. There are station and road closures in place.
‘The police, ambulance service and fire brigade are responding. One male detained.
‘I would urge people not to speculate until details are confirmed or post footage on social media.’
He added: ‘I am in contact with the Met Police, Mayor of London and Redbridge Council.
‘I will keep local residents updated as and when I can.’
