A 36-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday in north east Londonthe capital of England, after attacking passers-by with a sword and injuring at least five people. The investigators considered, based on the information collected, that the incident does not appear to be linked to terrorism.
London police received an emergency call during the morning local time of April 30. A security operation was immediately carried out near a metro station in Hainault area where several people had been stabbed.
“A man was arrested with a sword,” they reported in a statement, specifying that the suspect attacked bystanders and two police officers, according to various witnesses. The London ambulance service said it was treating five injured people who had to be taken to hospital.
“We are awaiting information on the condition of the injured,” police said.
Images released on social networks and by the British media showed a white man, wearing black pants and a yellow hooded sweatshirt, walking erratically in front of houses with a sword in his hand. Meanwhile, police units surrounded the scene to arrest him. Witnesses reported hearing cries for help and desperation.
“The attack does not appear to be linked to terrorism,” said Ade Adelekan., police official cited in the statement. Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wrote on the social network X: “Such violence has no place on our streets.” Last week, Sunak He targeted the security policy of the mayor of London, on the eve of the municipal elections scheduled this Thursday.
He city mayor, Labor Sadiq Khanalso spoke out after the incident and was “absolutely devastated” by what happened.
However, knife and sword attacks are on the rise in the UK. According to official figures, last year they increased by 7%, to almost 50,000, in England and Wales. While in London, they shot up 20%, with 14,577 registered attacksagain reaching levels prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: Ambito
