The moment police arrested a suspect in the allegedly stabbing of four men on a street in London’s Covent Garden as witness describe chaotic scenes after “people panicked and fled”
Footage has emerged of a woman reportedly seen in a stand-off with police officers after four men were allegedly stabbed in the popular tourist area of Covent Garden in London.
The four men have been taken to a major trauma centre following the incident on Endell Street on Wednesday afternoon (August 5). The Metropolitan Police said four men, aged 34, 39, 42 and 52, were found with stab wounds. They were taken to hospital where two remain with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening or life changing. The other two victims have since been discharged.
A 47-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and assault, the force added. She was taken into custody, where she remains. Police said a pair of scissors were recovered from the scene. The stabbing is believed to have been a mental health-related incident.
Images from the scene show a woman initially stood up with officers aiming tasers at the allegedly suspect. Later, the woman is seen on the ground with officers placing her under arrest.
Police can also be heard repeatedly telling her to “put the knife on the floor.” Footage also shows a crowd of people stood back watching as police speak with the woman.
Witness at the scene describe scenes of chaos as “lots of people panicked and fled”, according to one witness speaking to The Mirror.
One diner at the nearby Byron said: “lots of people panicked and fled. I don’t see the incident as I was about 50 yards away but people ran.”
Matt Bishop, 42, who works at a consultancy firm next to the cordon, said he had seen a woman having a “stand-off” with three police officers and waving a weapon around.
He added that he did not see the stabbing but saw the woman running towards the crossroads and said she seemed “pretty incoherent”.
Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, who leads policing in the area, said: “Officers responded within minutes of this incident after receiving a number of reports.
“While still at an early stage of the investigation, we would like to reassure the community that we currently believe this to be an isolated, mental-health related incident.“A visible police presence will remain in the area while evidence is gathered at the scene and we thank the public for their understanding.”Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD3449/05AUG.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We sent an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a fast response car and an incident response officer. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.
“We treated four patients at the scene and took them all to a major trauma centre as a priority by road.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.