A 14-YEAR-OLD boy has died following an attack in London where a man wielding a sword was arrested.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house in Hainault at around 7am on Tuesday.
The force said there were reports of people being stabbed during the incident in the Thurlow Gardens area.
READ MORE: 50 people reported missing after boat overturns near Canary Islands
Police said the suspect is understood to have gone on to attack other members of the public and two police officers.
The 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is in custody, the force added.
The Met said it is not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and it is not believed to be terror-related.
Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell said that a 14-year-old boy, who was among five people injured, had died from his wounds in hospital and that "everyone at the Met is keeping them in their thoughts at this unimaginably difficult time".
Reacting to the news, Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf said: "This is heartbreaking. My thoughts and my prayers are with the young boy's family, friends and community who are suffering the worst loss imaginable."
This is heartbreaking. My thoughts and my prayers are with the young boy's family, friends and community who are suffering the worst loss imaginable. https://t.co/jhfxiGb9ME
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) April 30, 2024
The other four people - two members of the public and two police officers - remain in hospital with injuries not thought to be life threatening.
Bell added that the events are "horrific" and that police are still trying to ascertain the "full facts as a priority".
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: "This must have been a terrifying incident for those concerned. I know the wider community will be feeling shock and alarm.
"People will want to know what has happened and we will provide more information as soon as we can.
"We do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the wider community. We are not looking for more suspects. This incident does not appear to be terror-related."
In a statement, the Met Police said: "Police and other emergency services are in Hainault, east London, at a serious incident in which a man with a sword has been arrested.
"We were called shortly before 07:00 BST to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house in the Thurlow Gardens area. There were reports people have been stabbed.
"At this time we understand the suspect went on to attack other members of the public and two police officers.
"A 36-year-old man was arrested at the scene and he is in custody."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article