Child dies and four taken to hospital after sword attack in north-east London

A 14-year-old boy has died and four people are in hospital after a knife attack in north-east London.

The police were called to the report around 7 a.m that a 36-year-old man attacked people in public with a sword.

Officers were also implicated in the rampage in Hainault, north-east London, near the tube station.

Police also said the man drove a vehicle into a house in nearby Thurlow Gardens before reportedly stabbing several people and arresting them.

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London Ambulance Service said it treated five people at the scene and took them to hospital – including the 14-year-old boy.

In an update this afternoon, Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, who leads the local police force, confirmed the teenager’s death.

He said: “He was taken to hospital after being stabbed and unfortunately he died a short time later.”

“The child’s family is being supported, initially by my local officers and now by some professionals, and everyone across the Met is thinking of them at this unimaginably difficult time.”

He also confirmed that two other people were in hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

Along with them, two officers suffered “significant” but non-life-threatening injuries and would undergo surgery, the police chief said.

Officers arrested the man 22 minutes after the first call to emergency services.

In a further update just before 4.30pm today, Met Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said the arrested man was in hospital after suffering “injuries” when his van collided with a building.

Because of his injuries, police were unable to question him, she added.

Ms Rolfe also addressed speculation about whether the 36-year-old was known to police. After “extensive checks,” which are still ongoing, officers have “so far found no evidence of a previous incident with him,” she said.

The deputy commissioner concluded her statement by reminding the public to “consider very carefully” social media posts relating to the incident.

“There are some images circulating online and people should be concerned about the impact of these images on the families and those most affected by this incident,” she said.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing screams and seeing someone being revived at the scene.

The video showed a man brandishing a large sword in front of several apartment buildings.

Police added they do not believe it was a targeted attack or had anything to do with terrorism and they are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

As the press conference ended this afternoon, Ch Supt Stuart Bell refused to respond to questions about whether the suspect had been previously arrested.

Eyewitnesses heard “screams and screams” after the sword attack in Hainault

Chris Bates told Sky News he saw police arrest a suspect with a “large samurai sword”.

He said that after confronting the suspect, officers yelled at them to drop the sword before Tasering him, “lunging at him” and arresting him.

Another resident said she saw a body on the ground as she hid by her window while a man with a sword shouted: “Do you believe in God?” outside her home.

The witness, who did not want to be named, said: “He swung his sword and tried to attack the police but then they sprayed him and he ran away.”

“He shouted at the police: ‘Do you believe in God?’, even at the ambulance.”

“We were very scared and tried to hide and not show ourselves through the window because he was standing right next to our house and could have seen us if he looked up.”

“We tried to hide, but at the same time we also took a video of him attacking the police and the body on the ground. So, yeah, we were very scared and didn’t know what to do.”

The King has asked to be kept informed about the incident and has shared his thoughts with those affected.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “Following the horrific scenes in Hainaut this morning, the King has asked to be fully briefed as details of the incident become clearer.”

“His thoughts and prayers are with all those affected – particularly the family of the young victim who lost his life – and he pays tribute to the bravery of the emergency services who helped contain the situation.”

After news of the attack broke, politicians were quick to express their condolences.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “This is a shocking incident. My thoughts are with those affected and their families.”

“I would like to thank the emergency services for their ongoing response and acknowledge the extraordinary bravery shown by the police at the scene. Such violence has no place on our streets.”

Local MP and Labor shadow minister Wes Streeting said the entire community was “devastated” by news of the attack but “deserved answers”.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan praised the “everyday bravery” of police officers who ran towards the sword-wielding man.

He added: “This attack is devastating and appalling. I am sure I speak for the entire city when I say my thoughts and prayers are with this little child and his family.”