UK Authorities Arrest Suspect for Stabbing in Leicester Square Following Weeks of Civil Unrest
UK authorities arrested a man suspected of stabbing two individuals in a public square in London on Monday morning following weeks of unrest spurred by a separate knife attack.
The individual is suspected of injuring two people—an 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman—in Leicester Square, a major tourist area in central London, according to the Associated Press.
London’s Metropolitan Police Department (The Met) said in a statement on X (formally known as Twitter) that both victims were taken to a hospital for treatment.
“The 11-year-old girl will require hospital treatment but her injuries are not life threatening,” the Met wrote. “The second victim suffered more minor injuries. At this stage, there is no suggestion that the incident is terror-related.”
A local shop worker at TWG Tea told the BBC that he heard “a scream” and went to help the two victims to stop the attacker.
“The moment I saw it I just jumped on that guy and grabbed his hand… and put him down on the floor and kicked the knife away from him,” said the worker, who gave his name as Abdullah. Other people then came to assist, holding the attacker down for several minutes until the police arrived.
Monday’s attack comes two weeks after a knife attack in Southport, England, that killed three girls and injured eight other children and two adults. Attacks where assailants used knives, instead of a firearm, had held steady in the past. But in 2023, England and Wales saw a 7 percent increase in “knife-enabled” crime, the AP reports.
“With knives so readily available, there’s only so much that can be done,” the AP said. “Of the 244 fatal stabbings in England and Wales in the 12 months ending with March 2023—the most recent figures available—101 were committed with kitchen knives, far surpassing any other type of blade, according to the Office of National Statistics.”
This uptick in knife violence is occurring alongside a rise in anti-immigration sentiment stoked by far-right groups, which fueled major unrest in the United Kingdom after these groups spread misinformation and falsehoods about the Southport attacker’s name and immigration status.
“Police pushed back against the claims, including issuing a statement that the alleged attacker was born in Cardiff, Wales,” according to prior Security Management coverage. “A judge even took the unusual step of allowing the teenaged suspect’s name to be shared publicly, lifting restrictions on the media’s ability to report on the identity of the underage suspect.”
Violent unrest continued to spread, however, with individuals burning cars, vandalizing mosques, and damaging hotels where asylum seekers were staying. The Met said more than 30 people had been charged so far for disorder and antisocial behavior, and it significantly increased police presence during this past weekend.
“They will continue to focus relentlessly on anyone suspected of fueling violence, disorder, and hate in our city,” the Met said in a press release. “Teams are also visiting faith and community venues in their local areas to listen to the concerns of residents and provide reassurance.”
Across the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Justice said that more than 150 people have been arrested in connection with this past month’s violent disorder. Nearly 120 of those individuals were remanded into police custody while awaiting court dates to keep the public safe, and the ministry said prison capacity was being boosted to handle the uptick.
“The mindless minority who caused and took part in the disgraceful scenes we witness were warned they would soon feel the full force of the law,” said Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood in a statement. “This data shows that many have already seen the inside of a courtroom and will see a stint behind bars, too. Where they have gone, more will follow.”
The Met has also called on the public for its assistance in stopping the spread of “inflammatory online speculation.”
“We all have a responsibility not to further the spread of misinformation,” the Met said on X. “Please think carefully before you share content posted online. Consider whether the account posting is trustworthy and what their intent might be.”
For more on the history of knife attacks, check out “Assessing the Use of Edged Weapons in Terrorist Attacks.” And to learn more about how to asses if online information is legitimate, check out our video “How to Avoid Falling for Fake News and Fraud.”
