London stabbing: witnesses tell of moment suspect was arrested after attack at Russell Square

On patrol: police in Russell Square today following last night's horrific attack
Alex Lentati / Evening Standard
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

The Russell Square suspect was seized by four police officers and restrained face-down on the ground minutes after the rampage, a witness said today.

The officers handcuffed a man in Bedford Place, just yards from where six people had been attacked, after he had been Tasered.

A night porter at the Grange Clarendon Hotel watched as the suspect was subdued.

He told the Standard: “I could see four police officers restraining him, holding him face-down on the floor.

“He wasn’t struggling I think he knew it was over. One police officer was about to get his handcuffs on him and was speaking into his ear.

“Others were searching the street for something he threw.”

The suspect had been screaming moments earlier, one onlooker said.

Another eyewitness, Zuhair Awartani, added: “I arrived here at my hotel and I saw the guy getting arrested just on the block.

A knife lies on the ground after the attack 
EPA

“There were two police cars and he was a man ... late 20s probably.”

One witness claimed she saw what she believed was the suspect “parading up and down” the street before the police arrived.

Philippa Baglee, 60, a tourist staying in the Imperial Hotel overlooking the square, said: “I went outside and there were people standing around looking at the ground.

“They did not look like they were helping.

Forensic officers at the scene early today (AFP/Getty Images)
Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

“A guy in a motorbike helmet was walking up and down.

“He was a short guy, he was on the outside of everyone and was wearing leather.”

A hotel worker, who did not want to be named, said a guest had witnessed the moment the knifeman went on the rampage.

”The police came to the hotel and a guest was telling them what he saw,” he said. “He said there was a madman running around with a knife just lunging at people randomly and stabbing them. People didn’t realise what was happening until they saw the knife, then everyone ran.

“It was all over very quickly, in a matter of minutes. He was just going for anyone he could see.

Five other people were injured in the shocking attack 
Nigel Howard

“I ran out to look and saw all the paramedics around one woman who was badly injured, trying to help her.”

Meanwhile, Spanish tourist Laura Gomez said she saw one of the victims, a blonde woman in her 20s or 30s, running northwards up Southampton Row.

She said: “We saw a woman with her hand holding her side. She was running and shouting ‘I need a hospital. I need a hospital.’ A man who looked like he was in his 60s and a woman stopped a taxi and helped her.”

An onlooker told how one of the other victims was screaming with blood pouring out of her as she lay on the ground.

The man said blood was running down her back, while another woman was suffering from stab wounds to the arm.

Forensic officers carry out searches in the area
Nigel Howard

The witness, who would only give his first name Michael, said both victims were aged around 25 and appeared to be part of a group who were hugging and comforting them on the ground next to the Square.

He said: “I heard a scream, and then we went towards the park and I saw a girl lying on the floor with blood coming from her back. Another girl had blood on her arm.”

He added: “I saw blood just next to her. She was lying on the floor with a friend hugging her.”

Paul Hutchinson, who walked past the scene moments after the attack, said he saw the body of the dead woman on the pavement.

“There was a body on the floor and you could see the feet sticking out from underneath and the rest of the body was covered up.

“There were loads and loads of armed police, lots of police cars with lights on, a couple of ambulances and the body on the floor.”

Pol O’Greibheannigh, 45, a journalist from Bloomsbury, was walking home from the cinema when he came across the scene.

“It was carnage,” he said. “It was wall to wall with armed police.

“The body was under a red blanket. There was dark matter all around it which I think was blood.

“I didn’t see her injuries. The body was on its own and from an angle you could see the body on the floor.

“I have not seen a police presence like this since 7/7.”

Rehana Azam, 42, who works for the GMB trade union, was staying at the Imperial Hotel. Her seventh floor room overlooks the scene.

She described a “clearly a distraught relative” being comforted by police nearby.

Ms Azam, from Darlington, said: “I was going to bed about 10.30pm and looked out. I saw a woman on the floor. I thought she had collapsed at first, but then I saw armed police shortly after an knew it was a serious incident.”

She added: “The saddest thing I saw was someone who was clearly a distraught relative being comforted by police next to the body. It was so sad.”

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in

MORE ABOUT