Hainault stabbing: Boy, 13, killed in horror rampage ‘by sword-wielding man who attacked five including two cops’
A 13-YEAR-old boy has been killed in a horror sword attack after a man allegedly went on a rampage, injuring four others.
The tragic death of the teen schoolboy comes after five people including two police officers were knifed in a terrifying frenzy.
A man, 36, wielded a huge blade and prowled the streets near the Tube Station in east London on Tuesday morning, it is said.
Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell has this afternoon revealed the heartbreaking news that one of the victims has died in hospital.
What we know so far…
- Cops raced to Hainault around 7am after car driven into house
- Reports of five stabbed – including two cops
- Hainault Tube Station closed around 7.30am
- Shocking videos show sword-wielding man on street
- Suspect, 36, arrested and remains in custody
- Ambulance say five people raced to hospital
- Boy, 13, confirmed dead
He said: “It is with great sadness that I confirm that one of those injured in the incident, a 13-year-old boy, has died from their injuries.
“He was taken to hospital after being stabbed and sadly died a short while after.
“The child’s family are being supported firstly by my local officers and now with some specialist officers and everyone across the Met is keeping them in our thoughts at this unimaginably difficult time.”
Commander Bell described the incident this morning as “truly horrific”.
“I cannot even begin to imagine how those affected must be feeling,” he said.
“My thoughts are with the injured, their families and the wider community as we all begin to come to terms with what has happened and try to understand what has happened here.
“I know that there will be clearly and understandably a desire for answers and an explanation to what happened.
“Our investigation is in its very early stages and my officers are working right now to establish the full facts as a priority.”
Met Police said they were called around 7am to reports a vehicle had been driven into a house in the Thurlow Gardens area.
We do not believe this to be a targeted attack and we are establishing the circumstances at the moment
Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell
People were reportedly stabbed at the property before the suspect went on to attack random members of the public and two cops.
Commander Bell said the two other members of the public remain in hospital.
Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
The two Met Police officers are also currently in hospital and will need surgery.
NOT A ‘TARGETED ATTACK’
They have significant injuries but they are not believed to be life-threatening at this stage, says Commander Bell.
He added: “I commend the incredible bravery of not just the police officers but the other emergency responders who came to this scene this morning.”
The suspect was tasered and arrested 22 minutes after the first 999 call.
Commander Bell continued: “I want to confirm at present that we do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the wider public and we’re not seeking any other persons.
“The incident does not appear to be linked to any act of terrorism.
“We do not believe this to be a targeted attack and we are establishing the circumstances at the moment.”
The force is now urging anyone with information to contact 101.
One resident said she saw a body on the ground as she hid by her window while a man wielding a sword shouted “do you believe in God?” outside her house.
The local from Laing Close, who does not wish to be named, said she saw a man standing outside her home next to a body and wielding a sword in front of two unarmed police and an ambulance.
“He was wielding his sword trying to attack the police but then they sprayed him and he ran away,” she said.
“He was shouting at the police ‘do you believe in God?’, also at the ambulance.
“We were very scared and trying to hide and not show ourselves through the window, because he was standing right next to our house and he could have seen us if he looked up.
“We were trying to hide but also at the same time taking video of him attacking the police, and of the body on the floor, so, yeah, we were very scared and we didn’t know what to do.”
Uni student Evelina Deliu, 20, told The Sun: “When I woke up, I looked out of my window. “The police were shouting ‘get down, get down’.
“They were screaming at him to stop resisting. It took six or seven people to get him down, and a lady (police officer) too.
“He was on the ground right afterwards. They were trying to tie him up and put him in handcuffs.
“He was moving his legs and trying to get out. They had to carry him to the car… because he was tied up he had to be carried.
“The police started picking things up and putting them in evidence bags. There wasn’t much emotion on his face.
“I think he was trying to run away but got caught here.”
Another local said he saw a man stood by his front door covered in blood as he made his way to the Tube.
Peter Rollison said: “I live in Laing Close and made my way to Hainault Station this morning.
“There were a lot of police cars around the corner from me. I stopped from a distance to look at all the commotion, then continued with my journey.
“There was a man in his home with his door open, his hand and arm covered in blood.
“I got to the station and TFL staff were talking and clearly shaken. They said a man was running around with a sword.
“As I left them I heard them mention someone had been stabbed in the neck.
“I made my way back home as I couldn’t leave my family. I had to ask permission to get to my home as it was part of a cornered off area.
“There were helicopters in the area for quite a while.”
A fourth local said: “I heard shouting, I heard shrieking – I thought ‘who would be shrieking at this time in the morning?’
“The shrieking sounded like the police – you know when they are ordering someone to stop or to get on their knees or something – it was like that.
“It was like ‘stop where you are, put that down, put that down’ – that kind of thing.
“I looked out the back window because the noise was coming from back there, I saw a bloke dressed in yellow jumping over some fences … then he went down an alley like he was going back onto the street again.
“I saw a policeman and policewoman – normal coppers with the short-sleeved shirts – who chased after him and they were shouting for him to put it down.”
MPs this morning condemned the incident and said they were “devastated” by the news.
MP James Cleverly has now said: “To hear the 13-year-old victim of this morning’s appalling attack in Ilford has died is heartbreaking.
“I send my heartfelt condolences to the family.
“This will be an incredibly challenging time for the local community and my thoughts remain with all those affected.”
PM Rishi Sunak blasted the crimes and said this kind of “violence has no place on our streets”.
He added: “This is a shocking incident. My thoughts are with those affected and their families.
“I’d like to thank the emergency services for their ongoing response, and pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery shown by police on the scene. Such violence has no place on our streets.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am absolutely devastated by the news from Hainault this morning.
“I remain in constant contact with the Commissioner. A man has been arrested and the area secured.
“The police are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident. There will be additional reassurance patrols in the area.
“The police officers and emergency services showed the best of our city – running towards danger to protect others and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.
“I would urge people not to speculate until the details of this incident are confirmed by the police and avoid posting footage on social media.
“If you have any information at all, please contact the police urgently on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111. There is no honour in staying silent.
“Those affected in the local area, including witnesses, can also call Victim Support on 0808 1689 111.”
MP Wes Streeting tweeted: “A critical incident has been declared in Hainault.
“There are station and road closures in place. The Police, Ambulance Service and Fire Brigade are responding.
“One male detained.
“I would urge people not to speculate until details are confirmed or post footage on social media.”
TFL urged people to re-plan their journey and asking them to avoid the area.
A spokesperson for London’s transport network said: “Hainault Station is closed due to a police investigation in the area.”
Underground tubes travelling through Hainault are on the Central Line.
