Hainault stabbings: Murder suspect in hospital after 14-year-old killed in sword attack in London

30 April 2024, 23:21 | Updated: 1 May 2024, 06:37

A murder suspect remains in hospital after a 14-year-old boy was killed and four others injured in a sword attack in northeast London.

A 36-year-old man was tasered and arrested at the scene in Hainault on Tuesday morning.

He was taken to hospital after sustaining injuries during the incident when his van hit a house.

The Metropolitan Police said he had not yet been interviewed because of his injuries.

Police were initially called at 7am on Tuesday to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house in Hainault.

A man was later seen wielding a sword and attacking members of the public on a road near Hainault tube station.

The suspect was arrested 22 minutes later. Doorbell footage showed the moment officers cornered the hooded man, who was still holding his weapon, in a driveway.

Police confirmed on Tuesday that one person - a teenage boy - had died and four others were injured during the incident.

Among those injured were two police officers who suffered wounds that required surgery, but were not life-threatening, and two members of the public.

Police said they did not think it was a targeted attack, or terror-related, and they were working to establish the circumstances of what took place.

Eyewitnesses described hearing shrieking and seeing someone receive CPR at the scene of the stabbings.

Video of part of the incident showed how officers shouted at the suspect, saying "Don't move, don't f****** move" after he was brought to the ground by three separate Taser discharges before being arrested.

Other footage showed the suspect being chased by police as an officer is heard shouting "Lock your doors" as the sword-wielding man entered residential gardens.

In another clip, 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 a body.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe said there had been speculation about whether police had been aware of the suspect before the incident.

She said that, despite urgent and extensive checks, police had "found no trace of a prior incident involving him so far, but we will of course continue to make those inquiries".

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Everything we know so far
Witnesses recall terrifying scenes

A neighbour from a nearby road, who witnessed the incident, told PA news agency the suspect pulled a "samurai sword from the back of his trousers".

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".

"Within two seconds she realised something wasn't right, started running, and he pulled a samurai sword from the back of his trousers," he said.

"She shouted to the other neighbour - a boy who was on his way to school. As he's turned around, he's struck him on the face."

Mr Fernando said the suspect then started "running around with the sword in his hand looking for victims".

Another witness, who asked not to be named, said: "He was wielding his sword trying to attack the police but then they sprayed him and he ran away.

"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.