Hainault: man arrested on suspicion of murder after 14-year-old boy dies in east London sword attack – as it happened (2024)

• The Metropolian Police said a 14-year-old boy was killed in the sword attack this morning in Hainault, East London. The boy’s family is being supported by specialist officers, the orcesaid.

• Five people were also injured in the attack: two members of the public and two Metropolitan police officers.

• The two Met officers suffered wounds that both require surgery, with Ch Supt Stuart Bell, of the Met police, describing their injuries as “significant” but not life-threatening. The injuries sustained by the two members of the public are also not deemed to be life-threatening.

• The suspect, a 36-year-old man, is in hospital after sustaining “injuries” when his van collided with a building, the Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe said. He has been arrested on suspicion of murder but has yet to be interviewed by police due to his injuries. On speculation about his background, Rolfe said: “We have found no trace of a prior incident involving him so far.”

• Bell also said at an earlier press conference that he did not believe it was a targeted attack, and it is not believed to be terror-related.

• Police said the 36-year-old suspect was arrested 22 minutes after the first call, after being Tasered.

• The Guardian understands that police have been investigating whether the suspect in the Hainault attack had a history of mental ill-health.

• London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said he was “absolutely devastated” about the incident and the UK’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, described it as “shocking”.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has posted this message on X to thank the police and emergency services for their response to the incident in Hainault.

It only took about 22 minutes between police receiving the first 999 call about a man wielding a sword in a quiet suburb of east London and him being fired at with a Taser and arrested.

But in that brief period, a 14-year-old boy was fatally stabbed, and four other people, including two police officers, were injured.

Police described the events of Tuesday morning, near Hainault tube station, as “truly horrific”. “I cannot even begin to imagine how those affected must be feeling,” said Ch Supt Stuart Bell.

The Met police were first alerted “to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house” in Thurlow Gardens just before 7am. Officers said a 36-year-old man got out of the vehicle before carrying out a series of attacks in the surrounding area with a sword, appearing to select victims at random.

A local reverend said today’s events have been a “real shock” to the community as Hainault has been “a fairly peaceful and quiet place”.

Reverend Keith John told Sky News: “The hearts of the whole communities go out to those affected by these events, and especially of course to the family of the young lad who has died.

“It’s something that most of us in the community can barely understand - the horror and the sadness and the shock that his family must be feeling today.”

Prime minster Rishi Sunak sends his “particular heartfelt condolences to the family” of the 14-year-old boy killed in today’s attack, a statement from Downing Street said.

Sunak’s thoughts are with “the whole community and all of those involved”, the statement added and again praises the work of police and other emergency services.

“We continue to reinforce the need to provide them with the time and space to carry out their investigations.”

Footage from a doorbell camera shows police officers Tasering and detaining a sword-wielding man in Hainault, east London.

A 14-year-old boy died after being stabbed after an attack on members of the public and two police officers.

• The suspect in the Hainault attack in east London is in hospital after sustaining “injuries” when his van collided with a building, the Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe said. He has been arrested on suspicion of murder but has yet to be interviewed by police due to his injuries. On speculation about his background, Rolfe said: “We have found no trace of a prior incident involving him so far.”

• The Met said a 14-year-old boy was killed in the sword attack this morning. The boy’s family is being supported by specialist officers, the Met said.

• Five people were also injured in the attack: two members of the public and two Metropolitan police officers.

• The two Met officers suffered wounds that both require surgery, with Ch Supt Stuart Bell, of the Met police, describing their injuries as “significant” but not life-threatening. The injuries sustained by the two members of the public are also not deemed to be life-threatening.

• Bell also said at an earlier press conference that he did not believe it was a targeted attack, and it is not believed to be terror-related.

• Police said the 36-year-old suspect was arrested 22 minutes after the first call, after being Tasered.

• The Guardian understands that police have been investigating whether the suspect in the Hainault attack had a history of mental ill-health.

• London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said he was “absolutely devastated” about the incident and the UK’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, described it as “shocking”.

New images released by the PA news agency show the 36-year-old suspect being confronted by police during the attack and being tasered.

Local MP Wes Streeting said he “can’t imagine” what that “poor boy’s family is going through” and shared “deepest heartfelt condolences”.

The Labour MP MP for Ilford North added: “My prayers are also with the other victims of this horrific attack and their loved ones.

“And I know the injuries sustained by the police officers involved will have really affected our whole Metropolitan Police force.

“So I want to thank all of those who are very visible in our community today.”

Jas Athwal, leader of Redbridge Council which covers Hainault, said the four people injured in this morning’s attack are all still in hospital.

He said the community’s “thoughts, prayers, hearts go out to those affected”.

Athwal also tribute to the 14-year-old boy who was killed.

On the 36-year-old suspect in custody, Rolfe said: “We have found no trace of a prior incident involving him so far.”

Rolfe said there will be a significant police presence in the coming days and the Met would like to speak to anyone with relevant information.

She added people “should think very carefully” about what they post on social media after graphic footage of the incident was posted.

Rolfe added: “He has been arrested on suspicion of murder at this time.“

“Given his injuries, we have been unable to interview him.”

Rolfe added: “Our thoughts of course remain with the family and friends of the 14-year-old boy who very sadly died here this morning.

“We’re also thinking of the two members of the public who were injured, as well as brave officers who were stabbed.”

The suspect in the Hainault incident is in hospital after sustaining “injuries” when his van collided with a building, the Met assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe said.

The chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, Rick Prior, said the “horrific incident” is a sad reminder of the “incredible bravery” police display in London every day.

Two officers required surgery following the attack.

Prior said: “It’s often forgotten by people who attack our profession and the difficult and dynamic decisions which officers are confronted with on an hourly basis, that we work with heroes whose courage is incredible.

“We shall be supporting our injured colleagues, the officers they work with and their families as best we can at this very difficult time.”