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Police respond to 'serious incident' in Woolwich, south London One dead and two injured in 'serious incident' in Woolwich
(34 minutes later)
Police are investigating a "serious incident" in Woolwich, south-east London. One person has been killed during a "serious incident" close to the Woolwich military barracks today.
Officers were called to John Wilson Street at around 2.20pm on Wednesday and the immediate area was shut down. Armed police were called to the area and sources say a further two people have been injured. There were reports that the dead victim was attacked with a machete.
One source said police had opened fire during the incident, but there was no confirmation of this. The Metropolitan police were unable to say if their armed officers had opened fire, but eyewitness and other accounts suggest they did.
Pictures posted on Twitter showed at least one person lying on the ground. Chiefs at the Woolwich barracks were understood to be trying to account for military personnel, amid reports the dead person may have been connected to the military.
On its Twitter account, the Metropolitan police helicopter team described the incident as serious. The incident happened 300-400 metres from the perimeter of Woolwich barracks, in south-east London.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Officers have responded to an incident in John Wilson Street at 2.20pm today. We believe at this stage officers were called to reports of an assault." Woolwich and Greenwich MP Nick Raynsford said it was his understanding that one person, a serving soldier, was dead and the two alleged suspects were in a serious condition in hospital.
London air ambulance said a doctor and paramedic were sent to the scene at 14.27pm and are on site. A separate source told the Guardian that the initial version of events was that a man was attacked by two other people. Those suspects were then shot by armed police called to the scene.
A spokeswoman for London ambulance service said: "We were called a 2.20pm to reports of an incident at John Wilson Street. The initial account was confused, and various people claiming to be eyewitnesses posted accounts and pictures on Twitter.
"We sent two responders in cars, three ambulance crews, two duty officers and London Air Ambulance were called out. At least one person is pictured lying on the ground, it is possible the social media site pictures show a total of three people lying on the ground.
"We still have staff at the scene." The Met said they had been called at 14.20 this afternoon.
Mr Raynsford said: "The incident occurred early afternoon. One individual is dead, two others are seriously injured and in hospital.
"The circumstances causing the incident are not yet clear. It's been suggested it was the product of a road traffic accident, but that's pure speculation.
"I'll be talking to everyone who is involved, we will be trying to do everything possible to try and ensure calm in the area. People will be very, very shocked.
"We think a serving soldier was the victim. We don't know the circumstances surrounding the incident.
"We do know a number of weapons have been seized. They include a gun, various knives, and a machete, apparently.
"The police clearly had to take action in order to try and arrest these individuals."
The Press Association news agency said a man wearing a Help for Heroes t-shirt was attacked with a machete-style knife and dumped in the street, quoting eyewitnesses at the scene.
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