Armed police swoop on ‘knifeman’ who slashed two people in hospital
Armed police swoop on ‘knifeman’ who slashed two people at a London hospital before ‘turning blade on himself’ in frenzy that sparked panic, with reports ‘patients hid in safe rooms’ during ‘major incident’
- Armed police swarmed Central Middlesex Hospital in London this afternoon
- Two people were found with stab wounds, with one fighting for their life
Two people have been stabbed, with one fighting for their life, after a knifeman went on a ‘mad rampage’ at a London hospital before apparently turning the blade on himself.
Armed police stormed Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal, north-west London, at around 1.20pm today and locked down the site for more than two hours while terrified patients reportedly cowered in ‘safe rooms’.
A man was arrested at the scene and is also fighting for his life in hospital with what are believed to have been ‘self-inflicted injuries’, the Met said.
Inside, officers found two people with stab wounds, one of which is being treated as life-threatening, while the second is being classed as minor.
The carnage is not being treated as a terror incident and no other suspects are being hunted, Scotland Yard said amid false claims there was a second attacker at large.
Amie Ferris-Rotman was told to hide in the dialysis unit by police for around 45 minutes while her father was getting treatment there.
She told Sky News: ‘There were lots of armed police, lots running around. And they told us they were looking for a second suspect, who was wounded and was hiding out somewhere in the hospital.’
![Armed police attend reports of an alleged stabbing at Central Middlesex Hospital in West London](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/21/14/72373933-12218965-image-a-57_1687355082874.jpg)
Armed police attend reports of an alleged stabbing at Central Middlesex Hospital in West London
![Images from the scene show emergency services swarming the hospital in London today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/21/16/72377637-12218965-image-a-60_1687359965057.jpg)
Images from the scene show emergency services swarming the hospital in London today
![The alleged stabbing happened at Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal, West London](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/21/15/72374769-12218965-image-a-75_1687356190342.jpg)
The alleged stabbing happened at Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal, West London
Journalist Ms Ferris-Rotman said she and her father arrived at the hospital shortly before 1.30pm.
She added: ‘Not long after we checked in for his appointment we heard scuffles and saw a lot of movement, a lot of police running around. Armed police were suddenly running around, suddenly all the nurses in the dialysis unit were obviously really scared and quite panicked.
‘Police said everyone had to evacuate immediately and the nurses said, “no we’ve got people on dialysis machines, that would be next to impossible to do”.
‘Then the police came in and did a brief check of the dialysis and renal unit and then locked us down and had armed police at every entrance. They put my father, me and two other patients in a small nurses room and locked the door.
‘A lot of the patients were quite freaked out and at one point those who were about to go on to dialysis were put on wheelchairs and brought into a room, which is where we were as well.
‘Outside there were lots and lots of police teams and different units. There were about 12 or 13 police cars and an incident response unit. No one was allowed inside and lots of patients were milling about outside.’
She wrote on social media at the time of the alert: ‘I am at Middlesex Central Hospital in the dialysis unit and we’re sheltering in safe rooms. Armed policemen are on the scene, being described as a ”major incident”.’
![Patients in the hospital reported they were on 'lockdown' after a 'major incident' was declared](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/21/14/72373931-12218965-image-a-58_1687355152207.jpg)
Patients in the hospital reported they were on ‘lockdown’ after a ‘major incident’ was declared
![The Metropolitan Police said a man has been arrested](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/21/14/72373935-12218965-image-a-59_1687355176649.jpg)
The Metropolitan Police said a man has been arrested
She told LBC: ‘I used to live in Afghanistan as a reporter, so I went into automatic crisis mode. We didn’t hear shooting or anything.
‘There were lots of police and they’re still here because the whole hospital’s been evacuated and everyone’s standing outside.’
Mark Thewlis tweeted that his partner was also trapped at the hospital in a ‘lockdown situation’, while the suspected knifeman was ‘still at large’.
‘Police with guns swarming hospital now. Partner been advised to stay locked in room with colleagues/patients,’ he added.
A third person said: ‘The whole area is on lockdown and they have evacuated as far as they can safely and there is now ambulances and police.’
London Ambulance Service said it ‘treated two people at the scene’ with paramedics helping with the ‘ongoing incident’. London Air Ambulance was also in attendance.
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: ‘There’s an ongoing incident at Central Middlesex Hospital. Please follow any instructions given to you by the police.’
A spokesman later added: ‘Police are on site and the hospital was temporarily locked down for a short period of time as a precautionary measure.
‘Working closely with the Metropolitan Police, we have now reopened the hospital and services will continue as normal.’
The hospital is in the centre of Park Royal business estate, on the border between Brent and Ealing.
![Armed police officers went to Central Middlesex Hospital in London after reports of a stabbing](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/21/14/72373567-12218965-image-a-40_1687354515102.jpg)
Armed police officers went to Central Middlesex Hospital in London after reports of a stabbing
![Police officers and ambulances arrived at the hospital around 2pm](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/21/17/72373573-12218965-Police_officers_and_ambulances_arrived_at_the_hospital_around_2p-a-72_1687364430002.jpg)
Police officers and ambulances arrived at the hospital around 2pm
![The hospital is located in the centre of Park Royal business estate and is on the border between Brent and Ealing (file image)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/21/16/72378073-12218965-image-a-65_1687360600284.jpg)
The hospital is located in the centre of Park Royal business estate and is on the border between Brent and Ealing (file image)
![The Met Police said they were aware of the incident and armed police were at the scene. A man has been arrested](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/21/14/72373631-12218965-image-m-48_1687354688827.jpg)
The Met Police said they were aware of the incident and armed police were at the scene. A man has been arrested
![The hospital trust confirmed there was an 'ongoing incident' at the hospital](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/21/14/72373627-12218965-image-a-47_1687354686300.jpg)
The hospital trust confirmed there was an ‘ongoing incident’ at the hospital
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/21/15/72375299-12218965-image-a-76_1687357030185.jpg)
![London Ambulance Service said they were dealing with an 'ongoing incident' at the hospital](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/21/15/72375297-12218965-image-a-77_1687357032371.jpg)
London Ambulance Service said they were dealing with an ‘ongoing incident’ at the hospital
A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called today (21 June) at 1:18pm to reports of an incident at Central Middlesex Hospital.
‘We sent a number of resources to the scene, including an incident response officer, an advanced paramedic, an ambulance crew, a medic in a fast response car, and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).
‘We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance. Our teams have so far treated two people at the scene. The incident is still ongoing.’
Police officers said they will stay at the hospital as further searches are carried out but ‘at this time they are satisfied that no one else is sought’.
A spokesman for the Met added: ‘A man has been arrested following a stabbing at Central Middlesex Hospital.
‘Armed officers were among those responding after calls at 1:18pm on Wednesday, June 21, to reports that two people had been stabbed.
‘Officers found two people with stab injuries. The first victim has injuries that are being treated as life-threatening. The second victim’s injuries are not being treated as life-threatening.
‘Police arrested a man outside the hospital. He has also been conveyed to hospital having received injuries that are believed to be self-inflicted. His condition is being treated as life-threatening.
‘Officers will remain in the hospital as further searches are conducted but at this time they are satisfied that no one else is sought.
‘Police are working to establish the circumstances. At this time the incident is not being treated as terror-related.
‘The hospital was temporarily locked down but has now reopened and will be operating services as normal. There is a heightened police presence at the hospital while we investigate.’