Boy (13) dead and man arrested following sword attack in east London

The scene in Hainault east London following reports of stabbings

A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY has died after being stabbed in an attack involving a sword in London, according to the Metropolitan Police.

One man has been arrested in London following reported stabbings and attacks on members of the public and police officers.

Speaking at a press conference near the scene, Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell said: “You will be aware that a serious incident occurred here at this location this morning. Police and ambulance services were called and deployed to a number of casualties.

“It is with great sadness that I confirm 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.”

Met Police officers were called shortly before 7am to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house in the Thurlow Gardens area of Hainault, east London.

There were reports that people had been stabbed, police said.

The force said it’s understood the suspect went on to attack other members of the public and two police officers.

The condition of those injured remains unclear.

A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene and he is currently in custody.

Police are not looking for further suspects in relation to the incident. The Met Police also said the incident does not appear to be terror-related.

“This must have been a terrifying incident for those concerned,” Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said.

“I know the wider community will be feeling shock and alarm,” Adelekan said.

“People will want to know what has happened and will we provide more information as soon as we can,” he said.

Adelekan added that police “do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the wider community”.

James Fernando, 39, said the suspect had asked one of his neighbours to “take the telephone from him to tell whoever was on the phone his location”.

He told the PA news agency: “Within two seconds after that she’s realised something isn’t right, started running and he’s pulled a samurai sword from the back of his trouser.

“She’s shouted to the other neighbour – a Nigerian boy who was on his way to school.

“As he’s turned around, he’s struck him on the face… he was dead on the spot.

“It’s quite traumatising now. I can’t stop envisioning the boy’s face.”

Speaking about what he saw of the suspect, Fernando said: “He was running around, still after the police officers came, with the sword in his hand looking for victims.”

Another witness, who asked not to be named, told PA he heard shrieks and screams following the incident.

He said he saw a man dressed in yellow jumping over fences from his back window and heard someone shout “he’s got a massive knife”.

His words follow footage shared on social media of a man in the area dressed in a yellow hooded jumper brandishing a large knife in his right hand.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the incident as “shocking”, adding: “Such violence has no place on our streets”.

Footage seen by PA shows a man in a yellow jumper chasing after an ambulance while holding a sword as a body lies motionless on the ground.

The home security video shows an ambulance parked next to the body lying on the road in Laing Close before the ambulance quickly drives away from the scene and the man runs after it, shouting.

In another video clip, sent by an anonymous resident, a police car arrives before the man verbally confronts the police and shouts “is there anybody here who believes in God?” while standing next to the motionless body.

A voice is heard shouting “drop the sword” before a police officer approaches the man and sprays a substance in his direction before he retreats.