One person was killed and five others were injured in a knife attack in central London late Wednesday night.
Scotland Yard’s counterterrorism command unit was investigating the stabbings in the city’s Russell Square.
Police were called there around 10:30 p.m. local time on reports of a man attacking people with a knife, the Metropolitan Police said.
“Early indications suggest that mental health was a factor in this horrific attack. However we are keeping an open mind regarding the motive and terrorism remains one line of inquiry being explored, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, from the Metropolitan Police, said.
One woman died at the scene from her injuries, she was believed to be in her sixties. Two other women and three men received "various injuries” during the attack, according to Scotland Yard. No further indictations have been given yet about the severity of their injuries.
Police used a Taser device to detain and arrest a 19-year-old man. The suspect is currently in custody at a London hospital.
Rowley added that “As a precautionary measure, Londoners will wake up this morning to notice an increased presence on the streets of officers, including armed officers today. We would urge the public to remain calm, alert and vigilant.”
The Metropolitan Police Service’s Homicide and Major Crime Command unit is supporting officers from the Counter Terrorism Command in investigating the crime.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said that that police are working “extremely hard” to investigate exactly what happened “and to keep the rest of us safe.”
He also urged Londoners to remain “calm and vigilant” and to report anything suspicious to police, and added: “The safety of all Londoners is my number one priority and my heart goes out to the victims of the incident in Russell Square and their loved ones.“
Russell Square, where the attack occurred, is less than one mile from the University of London and about two miles from Buckingham Palace and right by the British Museum, an area frequented by visitors and tourists.
Russell Square is also the scene of the most deadly attack of the 7/7 bombings in London. The bombing occurred on a ;Piccadilly Line underground train between Russell Square and King’s Cross. A total of four suicide bombers attacked London on July 7, 2005 in what was one of the worst terrorist attacks on Britain, killing 52 people and injuring hundreds.
The attack comes a day after the Met Police had announced it would add patrols to the streets of London amid concerns that a terror attack might be imminent.
Met Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe told Sky News it would be "foolish to ignore” the slew of attacks that have hit Europe over the last few weeks: “It is important that we get officers out there with firearms to respond where necessary.”
A few days ago, Hogan-Howe had also warned that an attack in the UK similar to those that have hit Europe is a case of “when, not if.”
Terrorist attacks have plagued Germany and Frane over the last few weeks. Last month 84 people died in Nice after a man rammed a refrigerated truck into the crowds enjoying Bastille day festivities and just last week an 86-year-old priest was killed and three others injured in a knife attack on a Catholic church in Normandy. Both of those attacks were claimed by ISIS, the terrorist group also known as the Islamic State, ISIL, or Daesh.
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