London Police Arrest Suspect with "Samurai-Type Sword" After Multiple Attacks

London: A man wielding a sword was apprehended in Hainault, east of London, following an assault that left several people injured, the Metropolitan Police confirmed on Tuesday.

Authorities were alerted just before 7:00 am (0600 GMT) after a vehicle collided with a house, with subsequent reports indicating that individuals had been stabbed.

"At this time, we understand the suspect went on to attack other members of the public and two police officers," the statement from the police read. "We are awaiting an update on the condition of those injured."

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The London Ambulance Service disclosed that its teams attended to five individuals, all of whom were transported to the hospital. Their current condition remains undisclosed.

The Metropolitan Police, responsible for policing an expansive area of Greater London, reported the arrest of a 36-year-old man at the scene.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan stated, "This incident does not appear to be terror-related."

Social media footage depicted a man brandishing what appeared to be a Samurai-type sword on the streets near residential areas.

Emergency service vehicles, including police, fire, and ambulances, were observed behind cordoned-off areas, including near the town's Underground station.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed deep distress upon learning of the incident and assured close coordination with the Met Police commissioner.

"The police officers and emergency services displayed the utmost bravery -- rushing towards danger to protect others, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart," he remarked.

The incident comes in the wake of Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's recent criticism of the Labour mayor's handling of knife crime in the British capital.

Official figures reveal a 20 percent surge in knife-related offenses in London in 2023, with 14,577 incidents reported -- a figure only one percent lower than pre-pandemic levels in the year leading up to March 2020.

Across England and Wales, there was a seven-percent uptick in knife crime, totaling 49,489 offenses, with the majority occurring in metropolitan areas, as per the Office for National Statistics.