Boy, 14, killed and four injured including two police officers after 'horrific' samurai sword rampage in Hainault
30 April 2024, 12:55 | Updated: 1 May 2024, 07:18
A 14-year-old boy was killed in this morning's sword rampage in Hainault, the Met Police has confirmed.
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The boy died a short while after being taken to hospital. His family are being supported by specially trained officers.
"My thoughts are with the injured, their families and the wider community," said Chief Supt Stuart Bell.
Police rushed to the scene shortly before 7am on Tuesday morning after a car drove into a house in the Thurlow Gardens area, near Hainault Tube station, Redbridge.
Multiple people were then attacked, including three members of the public and two police officers.
Mr Bell said the suspect had been Tasered at the scene and arrested 22 minutes after the first call to police was made.
Follow LIVE: Hainault critical incident LIVE: Boy, 13, dies after being attacked in sword rampage - as man, 36 arrested
The Met Police also confirmed two police officers are suffering with "significant injuries" and will require surgery.
Five people were injured in total, including the boy who lost his life. A 36-year-old man has been arrested.
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"Do you believe in God?" Sword attacker's cries as he stood over body
A local resident in Hainault said she saw a body on the ground as she hid by her window while a man wielding a sword shouted "do you believe in God?" outside her house.
The resident from Laing Close, who does not wish to be named, told the PA news agency she saw a man standing outside her home next to a body and wielding a sword in front of two unarmed police and an ambulance.
"He was wielding his sword trying to attack the police but then they sprayed him and he ran away," she said.
"He was shouting at the police 'do you believe in God?', also at the ambulance.
"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.
"We were trying to hide but also at the same time taking video of him attacking the police, and of the body on the floor, so, yeah, we were very scared and we didn't know what to do."
Man with sword arrested after stabbings and attacks on police officers
The incident is not believed to be a "targeted attack", Bell added. "We are establishing the circumstances at the moment."
He went on to described the incident as "horrific".
"I cannot even begin to imagine how those affected must be feeling," he said.
"My thoughts are with the injured, their families and the wider community as we all begin to come to terms with what has happened and try to understand what has happened here.
"I know that there will be clearly and understandably a desire for answers and an explanation to what happened.
"Our investigation is in its very early stages and my officers are working right now to establish the full facts as a priority."
Chief Supt Bell says the boys family are being supported by local specialist officers after the "horrific" events of this morning.
"Everyone at the Met is keeping them in their thoughts at this unimaginably difficult time."
He adds the events are "horrific" and police are trying to ascertain "the full facts as a priority".
