Mental health is the issue police are factoring into a deadly attack carried out by a 19-year old man in London’s Russell Square Wednesday evening [August 3].
The unidentified man was believed to have acted spontaneously, according to police, when he knifed several individuals, injuring five, and killing one in one of the city’s busiest areas and tourist epicenters.
Today, we’re learning that the one was an American citizen—a female in her late 60s who died shortly after receiving emergency medical treatment at the scene.
Others injured were of American, Australian, British and Israeli descent. The attacker is believed to be a Norwegian national of Somali descent.
“As a precautionary measure, Londoners will wake up this morning to notice an increased presence on the streets of officers, including armed officers today,” said Metropolitan Police Asst. Commissioner Mark Rowley during a press conference. “We would urge the public to remain calm, alert and vigilant.”
While police are still investigating the motives of this deadly attack and looking into all lines of suspicion, they have not entirely ruled out terrorism, making clear, however, that there have not yet been any signs of radicalization.
British officials have been on high alert following the recent string of attacks in neighboring European nations, specifically France, Germany, and Belgium, and an increased police presence has been seen in the capital.
However, a vast majority of these officers remain unarmed with firearms. It was at around 10:30 p.m. local time that armed officers were called to the stabbings. When they arrived no more than five minutes later, law enforcement discharged a Taser and subdued the suspect.
