The suspect in the Hainault attack in east London is in hospital after sustaining “injuries” when his van collided with a building, the Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe said. He has been arrested on suspicion of murder but has yet to be interviewed by police due to his injuries. On speculation about his background, Rolfe said: “We have found no trace of a prior incident involving him so far.”
Five people were also injured in the attack: two members of the public and two Metropolitan police officers.
The two Met officers suffered wounds that both require surgery, with Ch Supt Stuart Bell, of the Met police, describing their injuries as “significant” but not life-threatening. The injuries sustained by the two members of the public are also not deemed to be life-threatening.
Bell also said at an earlier press conference that he did not believe it was a targeted attack, and it is not believed to be terror-related.
The Guardian understands that police have been investigating whether the suspect in the Hainault attack had a history of mental ill-health.
London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said he was “absolutely devastated” about the incident and the UK’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, described it as “shocking”.
The two Met officers suffered wounds that both require surgery, with Ch Supt Stuart Bell, of the Met police, describing their injuries as “significant” but not life-threatening. The injuries sustained by the two members of the public are also not deemed to be life-threatening.
The suspect, a 36-year-old man, is in hospital after sustaining “injuries” when his van collided with a building, the Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe said. He has been arrested on suspicion of murder but has yet to be interviewed by police due to his injuries. On speculation about his background, Rolfe said: “We have found no trace of a prior incident involving him so far.”
Bell also said at an earlier press conference that he did not believe it was a targeted attack, and it is not believed to be terror-related.
The Guardian understands that police have been investigating whether the suspect in the Hainault attack had a history of mental ill-health.
London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said he was “absolutely devastated” about the incident and the UK’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, described it as “shocking”.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has posted this message on X to thank the police and emergency services for their response to the incident in Hainault.
I remain in close contact with the Commissioner about the incident in Hainault this morning.
The police officers and emergency services who ran towards danger to protect others showed the best of our city - and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. pic.twitter.com/W17SSXFbCj
It only took about 22 minutes between police receiving the first 999 call about a man wielding a sword in a quiet suburb of east London and him being fired at with a Taser and arrested.
But in that brief period, a 14-year-old boy was fatally stabbed, and four other people, including two police officers, were injured.
Police described the events of Tuesday morning, near Hainault tube station, as “truly horrific”. “I cannot even begin to imagine how those affected must be feeling,” said Ch Supt Stuart Bell.
The Met police were first alerted “to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house” in Thurlow Gardens just before 7am. Officers said a 36-year-old man got out of the vehicle before carrying out a series of attacks in the surrounding area with a sword, appearing to select victims at random.
A police officer guards a cordon outside a house after a sword attack on April 30, 2024 in Hainault. After a vehicle was driven into a house, a suspect went on to attack other members of the public and two police officers near to Hainault Tube Station in North East London. A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is in custody. Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images
A local reverend said today’s events have been a “real shock” to the community as Hainault has been “a fairly peaceful and quiet place”.
Reverend Keith John told Sky News: “The hearts of the whole communities go out to those affected by these events, and especially of course to the family of the young lad who has died.
“It’s something that most of us in the community can barely understand - the horror and the sadness and the shock that his family must be feeling today.”
Prime minster Rishi Sunak sends his “particular heartfelt condolences to the family” of the 14-year-old boy killed in today’s attack, a statement from Downing Street said.
Sunak’s thoughts are with “the whole community and all of those involved”, the statement added and again praises the work of police and other emergency services.
“We continue to reinforce the need to provide them with the time and space to carry out their investigations.”
The suspect in the Hainault attack in east London is in hospital after sustaining “injuries” when his van collided with a building, the Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe said. He has been arrested on suspicion of murder but has yet to be interviewed by police due to his injuries. On speculation about his background, Rolfe said: “We have found no trace of a prior incident involving him so far.”
Five people were also injured in the attack: two members of the public and two Metropolitan police officers.
The two Met officers suffered wounds that both require surgery, with Ch Supt Stuart Bell, of the Met police, describing their injuries as “significant” but not life-threatening. The injuries sustained by the two members of the public are also not deemed to be life-threatening.
Bell also said at an earlier press conference that he did not believe it was a targeted attack, and it is not believed to be terror-related.
The Guardian understands that police have been investigating whether the suspect in the Hainault attack had a history of mental ill-health.
London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said he was “absolutely devastated” about the incident and the UK’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, described it as “shocking”.
New images released by the PA news agency show the 36-year-old suspect being confronted by police during the attack and being tasered.
Handout footage from a doorbell camera of police officers tasering a sword-wielding man in Hainault, north east London. Photograph: PA
Officers tasering and detaining a sword-wielding man in Hainault, north east London, after a 14-year-old boy died after being stabbed following an attack on members of the public and two police officers. Photograph: PA
The 36-year-old suspect being tasered by officers in Hainault. He is currently in hospital. Photograph: PA
Handout footage from a doorbell camera of police officers tasering a sword-wielding man in Hainault. Photograph: PA
Met police officers arrest the suspect in Hainault. Photograph: PA
The suspect in the Hainault incident is in hospital after sustaining “injuries” when his van collided with a building, the Met assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe said.
The chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, Rick Prior, said the “horrific incident” is a sad reminder of the “incredible bravery” police display in London every day.
Two officers required surgery following the attack.
Prior said: “It’s often forgotten by people who attack our profession and the difficult and dynamic decisions which officers are confronted with on an hourly basis, that we work with heroes whose courage is incredible.
“We shall be supporting our injured colleagues, the officers they work with and their families as best we can at this very difficult time.”
We work with heroes... Statement from the Metropolitan Police Federation following Hainault sword attack. pic.twitter.com/rj0r3IKsz7
— Metropolitan Police Federation (@MPFed) April 30, 2024
