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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
(about 5 hours later)
Investigators have found no indication that a stabbing rampage in Russell Square that left an American woman dead was releated to terrorism. A Norwegian man was being held in custody on Thursday on suspicion of murdering an American woman in a “random” stabbing rampage in central London.
Mark Rowley, the Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said the attack seems to have been triggered by mental illness. Investigators say the 19-year-old suspect, who is of Somali origin and moved to the UK aged five, is mentally ill and has no known links to terror groups or radicalisation.
“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. Witnesses described their horror as a knife-wielding man launched his attack on passers-by in Russell Square, stabbing anyone he could reach late on Wednesday evening.
“I stress though that all the work we have done does not suggest those are relevant to the motivation for his actions.” A cyclist said he was flagged down by a Spanish family to call an ambulance, saying he called an ambulance as he watched one of the tourists cradle the dying woman in her lap.
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”. Fernando, from Brazil, said: “I thought they were friends, but then I realised that they were just passing. No-one knew each other.
The unnamed suspect and his family have been interviewed, as well as witnesses, and a full intelligence review has been conducted alongside house searches. ”The moment the police arrived, they asked them if the man had been shouting. They said that he didn't say anything. 
Norwegian police said they had been informed by their British counterparts and would offer assistance in the case. “They said that when he stabbed the people he didn't shout or scream anything.”
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. The American woman, in her 60s, reportedly used her last words to warn passers-by trying to save her that the attacker was among them, saying: “He’s still here, he’s still here.”
Paramedics attempted to save her life but she was later pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Pol O'Geibheannaigh, who was walking back from a nearby cinema with friends, said he saw a woman lying in a pool of blood as Russell Square swarmed with armed police.
“That level of police presence I haven't seen since 7/7 and I was here - I live around the corner,” he added.
Bombs exploded in nearby Russell Square station and Tavistock Square as part of the al-Qaeda inspired attacks that killed 52 people and injured 700 on 7 July 2005.
A witness who gave his name as Michael said he heard screaming and ran to find a young woman lying on the floor bleeding from a knife wound in her back.
“She was lying on the floor with a friend hugging her,” he told MailOnline.
She was among another five people injured - two other women and three men from Australia, the US, Israel and the UK.
Four of the wounded victims were discharged from hospital on Thursday, while a British man remained in a serious condition with a stab wound to his stomach.
Mark Rowley, the Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said armed officers arrived within six minutes of being alerted to the attack at around 10.30pm.
They used a Taser to restrain the suspect as he continued trying to stab other victims in the street, in what was praised as the “minimum necessary force”.
“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,” Mr Rowley said.
“At this time we believe this was a spontaneous attack and the victims were selected at random.”“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. Describing the suspect as a Norwegian national of Somali origin, the counter-terrorism chief said his background was not believed to be “relevant to the motivation for his actions”.
Three of the victims have been discharged from hospital and none were in a life-threatening condition. “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.
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. When asked why initial police statements had named terror as a line of investigation, Mr Rowley told reporters detectives were considering many options in light of recent attacks in Europe and the “current climate of threat”.
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”. The unnamed suspect and his family have been interviewed, as well as witnesses, and a full intelligence review has been conducted alongside house searches in London.
This morning we have searched an address in north London and will search another in south London. Norway’s National Criminal Investigation Service said it had been informed by their British counterparts and would offer assistance in the case, adding that the suspect emigrated in 2002.
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. Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said a “normal night out ended in horrific circumstances” for the victims.
“We should be proud of them and the British tradition of using the minimum necessary force,” Mr Rowley said. He deployed hundreds of armed and unarmed police across London to reassure the public – a move already planned after a string of attacks in Europe – adding: “We will protect our capital and those who live, work and visit our city.”
“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.