A 36-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday morning in Hainault, east London, after he attacked passers-by with a sword, injuring at least five people, in what police said “does not appear to be terrorism-related”. In a statement, they were called “just before 7:00 a.m. (8 hours GMT)” near a metro station, where witnesses said “people were being stabbed.”
“A man with a sword was arrested,” he added, adding that the suspect attacked passers-by “and two police officers” according to evidence gathered at the site. The neighborhood said “we do not believe the threat is sustained” and “we are not looking for other suspects.”
According to the London Ambulance Service, five people were taken to hospital after the attack. The severity of their injuries is not yet known. In a message published on X, rescue workers indicate that they were called to an incident near the Hainault metro station just before 7 p.m. “Our teams have now left the scene.”
“A Boy in Yellow”
According to PA news agency, published BBC, a witness heard screams around 7 a.m. (8 a.m. GMT). “I wondered who would be yelling at this point. The yelling sounded like police — you know when they order someone to stop or kneel down. Through the window, he said he saw “a guy in yellow jumping over the barriers,” with two police officers chasing him.
Pictures posted on social media and taken by British media show a white man with a slight beard, wearing black pants and a yellow hoodie, sword in hand, walking erratically in front of houses while police cars circle the scene.
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