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Russell Square stabbing attack 'not terror related', say police after interviewing Norwegian suspect Russell Square stabbing attack 'not terror related', say police after interviewing Norwegian suspect
(35 minutes later)
Police have said there is no indication that a stabbing rampage in Russell Square that left an American woman dead was releated to terrorism. Investigators have found no indication that a stabbing rampage in Russell Square that left an American woman dead was releated to terrorism.
Mark Rowley, the Assistant Commissioner of the Met Police, says the attack seems to have been triggered by mental illness. Mark Rowley, the Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said the attack seems to have been triggered by mental illness.
He says the victims were attacked randomly, including the woman who was murdered, who was an American national. Those injured were Australian, American, Israeli and British. “So far we have found no evidence of radicalisation or anything that would suggest the man in our custody was motivated by terrorism,” he added.
The suspect and his family have been interviewed, and a full terror review has been conducted alongside house searches. “I stress though that all the work we have done does not suggest those are relevant to the motivation for his actions.”
“I emphasise that so far we have found no evidence of radicalisation that suggests the man in our custody is in any way motivated by terrorism," Mr Rowley said. The suspect is a 19-year-old Norwegian national of Somali ancestry, which Mr Rowley said was not “relevant to the motivations for his actions”.
”The suspect is a Norwegian national of Somali origin. I stress, however, that all the work we have done so far does not suggest that those factors in his background are relevant to the motivations for his actions.“ The unnamed suspect and his family have been interviewed, as well as witnesses, and a full intelligence review has been conducted alongside house searches.
Norwegian police said they had been informed by their British counterparts and would offer assistance in the case.
Mr Rowley said: “Whilst the investigation is not yet complete, all of the work that we have done so far increasingly points to this tragic incident as having been triggered by mental health issues.
“At this time we believe this was a spontaneous attack and the victims were selected at random.”
A woman in her 60s who died of stab wounds at the scene has been identified as an American national, while two other women and three men injured were from Australia, the US, Israel and UK.
Three of the victims have been discharged from hospital and none were in a life-threatening condition.
Mr Rowley said he recognised there will still be public concern following the attack and that an increased visible police presence would remain in London for as long as necessary.
Asked why initial police statements had named terrorism as a line of investigation, he told reporters detectives were “considering many lines” in light of recent attacks in Europe and the “current climate of threat”.
This morning we have searched an address in north London and will search another in south London.
Armed officers arrived at the scene within six minutes of calls flooding in saying a man was attacking people with a knife in Russell Square, in a busy part of central London popular with tourists.
“We should be proud of them and the British tradition of using the minimum necessary force,” Mr Rowley said.
“There will have been a large number of people in that area at the time - they may have vital information to help our murder investigation - I would ask them to contact us.
“I want everyone who is out and about in London - our residents, businesses or visitors - to know that the Met is totally committed to doing everything we can do to protect you.”
A witness described how a family of Spanish tourists attempted to get help and comforted the dying woman as she lay on the ground.
Fernando, from Brazil, said he called for an ambulance after seeing the “older woman” slumped against park railings with a stab wound to her back.
He added that he had not seen the attacker but said the Spanish family told police the man was wearing black shorts and a white shirt, and was covering his face as he made sweeping, stabbing motions.
Fernando said: “The moment the police arrived, they asked them if the man had been shouting.
“They said that he didn't say anything. They said that when he stabbed the people he didn't shout or scream anything.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 020 8721 4868 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.