Four men have been rushed to hospital after being stabbed by a woman in central London, who was arrested at the scene. Emergency services descended on Endell Street in Covent Garden shortly after 12:30 pm on Tuesday following reports of multiple stabbings. The victims, aged 34, 39, 42 and 52, were treated by paramedics at the scene before all four were taken by road to a major trauma centre.
The Metropolitan Police said a 47-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and assault. Officers recovered a pair of scissors at the scene, which police believe were used in the attack, near the Shaftsebury Theatre. Witness Matt Bishop, who works nearby, told Sky that he saw the suspect in a confrontation with police moments after the attack. "I didn't see the stabbing," he said. "I saw her running down the road towards the crossroads. She looked quite old, short hair. There was a bit of a stand-off with three police officers." He added that the woman appeared confused during the incident. "She was pretty incoherent in what she was shouting. The officer was asking what language she was shouting."
Detectives said early enquiries indicate the incident was linked to the woman's mental health and confirmed they are not searching for anyone else. The London Air Ambulance was dispatched as part of the emergency response, landing in nearby Trafalgar Square, although all four victims were ultimately transported to hospital by ambulance.
Police established a cordon along Endell Street near Covent Garden, close to a St Mungo's homeless centre, while forensic officers examined the scene. The cordon was lifted later in the afternoon. Two of the four victims have injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing, the Metropolitan Police has said, while two have been discharged from hospital.
