One woman was killed and five other people were injured in a knife attack in central London’s Russell Square, London Metropolitan Police said on Thursday morning.A suspect has been detained, authorities said.Police did not give a motive but said “terrorism is one possibility being explored at this stage.”
Based on early evidence, investigators believe the incident was a terror attack, according to officials briefed on the investigation.Police and ambulance crews were called after reports of a man in possession of a knife and injuring people came in.The knife attack was arrested after an officer discharged a taser.
The incident occurred in the same area as where one of the 7/7 bombs detonated in 2005, which left 52 people dead and more than 700 wounded.One source said the suspect was seen to go ‘on the rampage’ with the weapon. The woman’s body is still believed to be on the pavement with a forensics tent covering it. Police have cordoned off the area and there is a heavy presence of officers and paramedics.
One witness said he heard the victim scream before running over to help them.The two women were with two men who were shouting ‘tío lo vi todo’ in Spanish, meaning ‘I saw everything’.
The witness added: “They all spoke Spanish so I guess they were a group. I only saw the victim and the girl with the arm stabbed from that group.“I just saw blood just next to her. She was lying on the floor with a friend hugging her.”
