London: A 13-year-old boy, who was among the five wounded by a man wielding a sword in east London, succumbed to injuries on Tuesday.
“It’s with great sadness that one of those injured in this incident, a 13-year-old boy, has died from their injuries,” Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, from the Metropolitan Police, told UK media.
The man crashed a vehicle into a house northeast London’s Thurlow Gardens before reportedly stabbing multiple people.
Emergency services were rushed to the scene.
The 36-year-old was arrested and is in police custody.
The five injured persons were provided primary treatment by emergency workers and taken to a hospital.
The attack ‘does not appear to be terror-related’, Metropolitan Police told UK media.
Reacting to the incident, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Hainault stabbings were shocking.
“I’d like to give my thanks to the emergency teams that are responding and to pay tribute to their bravery,” he said while speaking at the Society of Editors conference in central London.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also said he was “absolutely devastated” at hearing of the incident. “The police offices 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,” Khan said.
Knife crime offences in London are increasing as per UK media reports. Of the 49,489 knife crime offences recorded in England and Wales in 2023, 29 per cent were by the Metropolitan Police, a higher proportion than any other force, the Metro reported.
