Knife attack in London's Russell Square leaves woman dead and five injured

Woman in her 60s has died and five others injured after knifeman, 19, 'went on the rampage' in London
Police called to Russell Square at 10.30pm last night after witnesses say screaming victims tried to flee
Suspect Tasered and is under police guard in hospital - the condition of five other living victims is unknown
Scotland Yard said incident could be terror related and said knifeman has 'significant mental health issues'

A knifeman has gone on the rampage in central London and stabbed to death a woman in her 60s and injured five more people in a potential terror attack.

Police were called to Russell Square at 10.30pm last night after the suspect, 19, stabbed pedestrians in the back, side and arms who were left 'screaming and covered in blood' on the pavement.

He was arrested after armed officers Tasered him to the ground and he is now under police guard in hospital. A woman was pronounced dead at the scene and two women and three men were taken to hospital.

The killer's knife was abandoned on the pavement and next to it the body of the unnamed victim remained under a forensics tent overnight and was taken away by ambulance this morning.

Witness Philippa Baglee, who was staying in a hotel on Russell Square, an area always packed with tourists, said the man "parading up and down" in a helmet, suggesting he may have arrived on a motorcycle or moped.

Scotland Yard's top anti-terror officer Mark Rowley said this morning that the 19-year-old appears to have 'significant mental health issues' but admitted terrorism could be a motive.

The Met will send scores of armed officers on to the streets of the London this morning - including members of its new elite counter-terror unit - to reassure the public and in case there is a new attack.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called for the public to remain 'calm and vigilant' as police investigate the motive for the stabbings.

There are fears that the knifeman operated with an accomplice as the Met refused to rule out arresting more suspects. One witness said he saw 'a man flee on a motorbike'. Others suggested a gang may have been involved.

A woman in her 60s has died and five other people have been injured after a man with 'significant mental health issues' allegedly 'went on the rampage' with a knife in a possible terror-related attack in central London

The woman's body remained on the pavement at the scene with a forensics tent covering it until the early this morning, when it was covered and taken into a waiting ambulance


Police have cordoned off the area and a heavy presence of officers and paramedics remain at the scene this morning

A woman has died and up to five people have been injured after a man allegedly 'went on the rampage' with a knife in a possible terror-related attack in London. Pictured: A forensic tent thought to be covering the woman's body in Russell Square

A forensic expert analyses what is believed to be the weapon used by the attacker during the mass stabbing 'terror' attack

Police have cordoned off the area and additional police patrols are in place in London this morning, and police helicopters hovered over the city well into the early hours.

The incident occurred in the same area as where one of the 7/7 bombs detonated in 2005. A total of 26 people were killed when Germaine Lindsay, 19, detonated a suicide bomb on a Piccadilly line Tube as it moved between King's Cross station and Russell Square.

Last night's incident also comes just hours after the Met unveiled its brand new elite anti-terror unit.

Scotland Yard confirmed that 'terrorism is one possibility being explored at this stage' and also said that early indications suggest that 'mental health is a significant factor in this case'.

They confirmed murder detectives and the counter-terrorism unit had been brought in to investigate the killing.

One source said the suspect was seen to go 'on the rampage' with the weapon. Another witness said he heard one of the victim's scream before running over to help them.

Police forensic officers are pictured searching the scene with torches in the early hours as they continue to gather evidence

Forensic officers have remained at the scene into the early hours to gather evidence after a woman died and five others were injured when a man 'went on the rampage' and began 'injuring people with a knife' near a park in Russell Square, London

Additional police officers have been deployed to the central London area to reassurance residents as it emerged the Met is treating the incident as a possible terror-related offence. The 'stabbing' occurred in the same area as one of the 7/7 bombings

Police and paramedics are pictured at the scene following the mass stabbing in Russell Square at around 10.30pm last night


An eyewitness, who goes by the name Michael, told MailOnline that he saw a woman - aged around 25 - with blood pouring from her back. He said another woman of the same age was suffering a wounded arm.



He said he believed the victims were heard speaking in Spanish.