One person has died and others are injured after a man reportedly began stabbing people with a knife at a street market in southeast London this morning (Sunday, November 10).
Metropolitan Police have now launched an investigation into the fatal stabbing in Walworth. Officers were called to East Street Market at about 10.40am and a man, believed to be in his 60s, has been arrested and taken into police custody.
The London Ambulance service was also present. The Met has since confirmed three people were injured in the reported attack, including the man who died at the scene. Enquiries are now underway to confirm the victim’s identity.
(Image: Supplied)
A man and a woman were taken to hospital. Officials are now waiting for an assessment of their condition.
Commander Peter Stevens said: “Tragically, a man lost his life this morning, and officers are working hard to establish exactly what happened and to provide support to his family. My thoughts and sincere sympathies are with them, and with the other people injured. Our investigation is at a very early stage.
“One man was rapidly arrested by officers responding to the incident. At present, although enquiries are ongoing, nobody else is sought. The incident is not being treated as terrorism. Enquiries continue, led by dedicated detectives from Specialist Crime.
(Image: MyLondon)
“I want to thank those people who have already shared their accounts of what they saw with police. I urge anyone with information or footage, or any witnesses yet to speak with police, to get in touch.”
A police cordon was set up at the scene, with officers in hi-vis jackets appearing to gather around a particular spot within the closed-off area. Taking to social media, witnesses said those in the area should “expect delays” as a result of the “major incident”.
Staff at shops on the road told MyLondon they had been told there had been multiple casualties as a result of the incident. One local resident told the publication: “There were two ambulances with flashing lights taking two people away.”
The market is open every weekend from 8am to 4pm, with the alleged attack having happened at one of the busiest times of day. Police appear to have cleared the area after the cordon was set up.
According to the AA’s traffic monitoring site, traffic on both sides of the road has slowed since the incident was reported earlier this afternoon.