14-Year-Old Boy Fatally Wounded in Sword Attack in London

A man wielding a sword wounded five people in east London, resulting in the death of a 14-year-old boy. The incident occurred in the Hainault district, taking place early in the morning. The perpetrator was subdued and arrested by police, with the use of Taser stun weapons, and is now in custody. The police have stated that the incident is not believed to be terrorism-related.

All five victims, including two police officers, were taken to the hospital, with none of the injuries deemed life-threatening. Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell of London’s Metropolitan Police described the incident as “truly horrific,” and expressed that specialist officers were providing support to the boy’s family. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the stabbings, reaffirming that such violence has no place in society, while expressing gratitude for the bravery demonstrated by the responding emergency services. Witnesses recounted the events, with one resident describing the fear and tension during the incident, as she and others sought to hide from the armed suspect.

Another witness observed the police chasing the perpetrator, urging him to drop the weapon. London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed devastation over the incident, commending the courage of the police officers and emergency services for their response. There has been recent criticism of the mayor’s record on knife crime in the British capital, with official statistics indicating a rise in knife-related offenses.