Hainault stabbing live: Five in hospital after attack as police say man with sword arrested

Eyewitness footage shows a man wielding a sword in Hainault on Tuesday.

Here are the latest pictures from the scene at Hainault:

One local resident told The Independent they woke up to “the sound of a huge crash” caused by “a van that had driven straight into the side of the house opposite” his.

He described watching the events unfold and seeing “people running and screaming”, adding: “It’s all so surreal for a Tuesday morning.

“I was in my house watching out my window the whole time so I never personally felt worried but kids were on the way to school and my neighbours were on the way to work.”

The suspect was Tasered by police, an eyewitness has claimed.

“There was about seven or eight police cars entering that road and after another 10 minutes, I saw the guy running towards the station and entered the road opposite the station,” he told Radio 5 Live.

“He tried to get into one of the houses but couldn’t get into it and that’s when they Tasered him.”

Rishi Sunak has paid tribute to the bravery of emergency services who responded to the attack in Hainault.

Speaking at the Society of Editors conference in central London, he said: “I’d like to give my thanks to the emergency teams that are responding and to pay tribute to their bravery.”

Local MP Wes Streeting said: “I want to thank the emergency services for their response to the horrific incident in my constituency this morning, particularly the heroic Metropolitan Police officers who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. They are the best of us.

“My prayers are with those who’ve been injured and their loved ones. I know there will be widespread fear and alarm in our community, but the police have made an arrest and are not looking for other suspects.

“I am liaising closely with the police, the mayor of London and the London Borough of Redbridge, and will keep local residents updated.”

Five people have been taken to hospital after the attack in Hainault.

“We were called at 6.54am this morning to reports of an incident near Hainault underground station,” a London Ambulance Servicespokesperson said.

“We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, clinicians in response cars, advanced paramedics and London’s air ambulance.

“At this time we understand members of the public and two police officers had been attacked.

“Working together with our emergency services partners, we treated five people on the scene and took all five to hospital. All crews have now left the scene.”

A witness to the Hainault attacks said there appeared to be a stand-off between police and the suspect in an alleyway before he heard a woman scream.

The man, who asked not to be named, said: “I also heard the words ‘he’s got a massive knife’, or ‘he’s got a massive sword’. Then he disappeared down this alley and then he was out of sight.

“They [the police] went into the alley and there seemed to be some sort of a stand-off there where I heard this huge commotion, then I heard a scream.

“From that commotion at least one person was knifed – I think it might have been a woman because I heard a woman scream and then some sort of sobbing sounds.

“I then heard a voice say something like ‘she’s been stabbed in the face’ or ‘we need assistance’ – you know, calling for medical back-up.”

Here is a quick round-up of what we know so far about the incident in northeast London this morning:

• Police were called shortly before 7am to reports of a vehicle being driven into a home on Thurlow Gardens, near Hainault Tube station. There were reports that people had been stabbed.
• The suspect is thought to have gone on to attack other members of the public and two police officers.
• Police are awaiting an update on the conition of those injured.
• A 36-year-old man was arrested with a sword at the scene and is in custody.
• Hainault Tube station and the surrounding roads were closed as police investigate.
• The attack does not appear to be terror-related and there is not believed to be an ongoing threat to the wider community, police have said.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he was “absolutely devastated” by the attack in Hainault and thanked the emergency services for “running towards danger”.

He said: “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.”