Police confirm 13-year-old boy killed in London sword attack

LONDON

A 13-year-old boy who was among five people injured in Tuesday morning's sword attack in east London has died, the Metropolitan Police said.

A serious incident was declared early Tuesday after a sword-wielding man drove into a house in Hainault and stabbed several people.

Metropolitan Police said in a statement that two officers are among those injured after being attacked by the 36-year-old suspect, who is in custody.

Speaking to reporters later in the day, Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell said that one of the victims, a 13-year-old boy, died shortly after being taken to hospital.

"It is with great sadness that I confirm one of those injured, a 13-year-old boy, has died. He was taken to hospital after being stabbed and sadly died shortly afterwards," he noted.

Bell said that the suspect was tasered and arrested 22 minutes after the first call to police was received shortly before 7 a.m. local time (0600GMT).

"I want to reiterate that at present we do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the wider community, we are not looking for more suspects and this incident does not appear to be terror-related," he said.

The chief superintendent stated that a total of five people were injured, three members of the public and two police officers.

The other two members of the public remain in hospital but their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, and the two Met officers who are also in hospital with stab wounds have significant injuries but are not life-threatening, he added.

Earlier, following the incident, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak thanked the emergency services for their response to the "shocking incident."

"Such violence has no place on our streets," he wrote on X.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also praised police and emergency services for "showing the best" for London, "running towards danger" to protect others.