Teenager stabs American woman to death in London

The crime scene is cleaned in London’s Russell Square following a knife attack in which one woman was killed and five others injured on August 4, 2016.


British police arrested a teenager on suspicion of murder Thursday after a stabbing spree in the heart of London that left one woman dead and five others wounded.
Police fired an electric stun gun in arresting the 19-year old man and said that while they were focusing their inquiry on his mental health, counter-terrorism officers were supporting the murder probe.
With European cities already wary of attacks, London Mayor Sadiq Khan appealed for calm and vigilance, while extra police have been deployed in the British capital, including armed officers — an unusual sight in the UK.
After receiving hospital treatment himself, the suspect was being held at a south London police station.
The attack took place late Wednesday in Russell Square, a plush garden square lined with tourist hotels close to several popular attractions, notably the British Museum.
Paramedics fought to save the life of the woman believed to be an American in her 60s but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two women and three men were also injured. Two of the five remain in hospital while three have been discharged.
“Early indications suggest that mental health was a factor in this horrific attack. However, we are keeping an open mind regarding the motive,” said London police’s counter-terror chief Mark Rowley.
Extra armed and unarmed officers were being deployed on the streets in a bid to reassure the public following recent events abroad, police said.
Police were alerted to the incident at around 10:30pm (2130 GMT). Armed officers were on the scene within around five minutes and the man was detained at 10:39pm.
“I was buying a beer when I heard a woman shouting who was being chased by a man,” said Xavery Richert, 22, a French tourist staying in a youth hostel on the square.
“I thought it was a bag snatching… she was not hurt,” he told AFP.
“I came out for a cigarette, I went back, there were firefighters, police, and then I saw the body under a sheet. You could only see the feet sticking out.”
Russell Square resident Constantine Somerville said: “It’s such a safe area and very quiet especially at night — why would somebody commit an attack in such a quiet area?”
Mayor Khan said police were seeking “to establish the full facts including motives” for the attack and urged the city’s residents to stay calm but alert.
“I urge all Londoners to remain calm and vigilant… We all have a vital role to play as eyes and ears for our police and security services and in helping to ensure London is protected.”
Europe has been on edge for months following a string of recent jihadist-inspired attacks.
Since August 2014, the terror threat level in Britain has been “severe” — the second highest level, meaning an attack is considered “highly likely”.
Writing in The Mail on Sunday newspaper, Britain’s top police chief Bernard Hogan-Howe said a terror attack was a question of “when, not if”.
Hours before the stabbings, police announced that the first of an additional 600 armed officers were trained and ready to hit the streets.