A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder
On Tuesday morning, police were called to Hainault in north-east London after a man wielding a samurai-style sword attacked a number of people.
The attack left a 14-year-old boy dead and four people, including two police officers, injured.
Here’s everything we know about the incident and the suspected attacker.
When and where did the attack take place?
Police were called to the suburban area of Hainault in north-east London shortly after 7am on Tuesday (April 30). This was following reports that a van had been driven into a house in the Thurlow Gardens area and a number of people had been stabbed.
A critical incident was declared by police.
What happened?
Footage from the scene shows a man in a yellow hoodie roaming the streets wielding a samurai-style sword.
The BBC reports that the man was cornered in a garden before he was Tasered by officers.
A doorbell camera captured the moment police apprehended the man.
Who were the victims?
There were five victims in the attack, including a 14-year-old boy who died from his injuries.
The teenager has not yet been publicly identified, but it is understood that he attended Bancroft’s, a school in Woodford Green, east London. This is the same school as Grace O’Malley-Kumar, a 19-year-old who was one of three people killed in a stabbing attack in Nottingham last June.
Four other people were injured in the stabbings, and have been treated in hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Two of those injured were police officers responding to the incident. Met Chief Sir Mark Rowley said one of the officers has a “seriously damaged” arm and another a badly damaged hand.
Who was the suspected attacker?
A 36-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Police said he was arrested 22 minutes after they received the first call about the attacks.
He is currently undergoing treatment in hospital for injuries he sustained when he crashed the vehicle, apparently before the stabbings. He has yet to be questioned by police.
No information has been released about his identity, background or motivation for the attacks.
Anyone with any information in relation to the attacks is urged to contact the police n 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.
Those affected in the local area, including witnesses, can also call Victim Support on 0808 1689 111.
Related links:
Chilling words revealed of suspect behind Hainault sword attack
