An American woman in her 60s has been killed after being repeatedly stabbed in the back by a knifeman in a central London rampage as police rowed back on terrorism as a potential motive and said the attack was probably triggered by mental health issues.
The US citizen was knifed by the “large man” – who was reportedly wearing black shorts and a white t-shirt – as he silently and indiscriminately attacked pedestrians in Russell Square on Wednesday night.
She was helped by a family of Spanish tourists as she lay slumped against railings after being targeted by the knifeman, who witnesses said did not say a word as he also stabbed a man in his 40s in the chest and a woman in her 20s in the arm.
A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, having received treatment in hospital under armed guard after a Taser was discharged as he was detained by police shortly after 10.30pm.
The suspect is a Norwegian national of Somalian origin, but no evidence has been found of radicalisation, Scotland Yard’s head of counter-terrorism Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said.
Police had earlier said they were keeping an open mind over the motive behind the attack – which took place in a popular central London tourist area close to the scene of the July 7 London bus bombing in 2005 – and said terrorism was “one line of inquiry that we should explore”.
But Mr Rowley said that so far no evidence has been found of radicalisation that would suggest the man in custody was “in any way motivated by terrorism”.
Mr Rowley said specialist detectives from murder and terrorism teams had been working on the case throughout the night.
He added: “Whilst the investigation is not yet complete, all of the work we have done so far increasingly points to this tragic incident as having been triggered by mental health issues.
“At this time, we believe this was a spontaneous attack and that the victims were selected at random.”
It was also revealed in the statement on Thursday afternoon that the woman killed in the attack was American. Those injured are Australian, American, Israeli and British.
The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was arrested after officers fired a Taser. No other shots were fired.
After receiving treatment at hospital under guard, he remains in custody at south London police station.
As a result of the attack, armed police and other officers will be deployed on the streets of London on Thursday as a “precautionary measure” to provide reassurance, the Met said as it urged the public to remain “calm, vigilant and alert”.
Police were called to Russell Square, a popular tourist area near the British Museum in Bloomsbury and the scene of one of the London 7/7 bombings, shortly after 10.30pm to reports of a man armed with a knife assaulting people.
Among the first to raise the alarm was a cyclist on his way home from work, who phoned police after being flagged down by a Spanish family who stopped to help the victims.
The 40-year-old Brazilian witness said he was told the attacker had been making “sweeping, stabbing motions” as he “slashed out” with a blade, but “didn’t say anything”.
“They said that when he stabbed the people he didn’t shout or scream anything”, he added.
The man, who gave his name only as Fernando, said: “I saw a white woman slumped against the railings with injuries and she was being helped by a young Spanish girl who looked around 16 years old.
“She had been stabbed in the back several times, and I called 999. An Englishman, in his mid 40s, had been stabbed in the ribs under his left armpit.
“He said ‘I’m okay, I’m okay please help the woman’ but I don’t think he realised he was so seriously injured. I ran across the street to a bar to call for help.
“The attacker was apparently stabbing and waving his knife at random – making a lunge in towards people’s legs. The victim wasn’t with anyone, she was on her own.
“The attacker… wasn’t shouting anything and after he stabbed them he ran off down the street towards Russell Street Tube station.”
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe vowed to “protect our capital and those who live, work and visit our city” after the stabbings, adding: “A normal night out in our busy capital has ended in horrific circumstances.”
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, called for the public to remain “calm and vigilant” and said his “heart goes out to the victims of the incident in Russell Square and their loved ones” as he cut short a Mediterranean family holiday to return to the capital.
Paramedics had given the woman “extensive treatment” at the scene, but she could not be saved.
The five injured people were all taken to hospital for treatment, the London Ambulance Service said.
Three people were discharged on Thursday morning, as the other two remained in hospital. Their are injuries are said to not be life-threatening.
Witnesses described seeing armed police flood the area in the wake of the attack and officers established a large cordon to seal off the square where a forensics tent was later seen. The cordon had been largely lifted by Thursday morning.
The attack came on the day that Scotland Yard announced it was to putmore armed officers on public patrol as part of anti-terrorism plans.
On Sunday, Metropolitan Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe warned that a terror attack in the UK was a case of “when, not if”.
No link to terrorism? Why? Because there’s no AR-15 involved? It doesn’t matter anyways. It’s time to ban all knives! (sarcasm)