Two people have been stabbed, one of whom was fighting for his life, after a knifeman committed a stabbing attack at a London hospital – before apparently turning the knife on himself.
Armed officers stormed the Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal, north-west London, around 1.20pm today and sealed off the site for just over two hours while terrified patients reportedly huddled in ‘safe rooms’.
A man was arrested at the scene and is also fighting for his life in hospital with suspected “self-inflicted injuries,” the Met said.
Police found two people with stab wounds, one of whom is being treated as life-threatening, while the second is being treated as a minor.
It is not being treated as a terror incident and no other suspects are being hunted, Scotland Yard said.
An eyewitness said armed police were looking for a second injured man in hospital, but the Met Police have since confirmed no further suspects are being sought.
Central Middlesex Hospital was on lockdown this afternoon as terrified patients reportedly huddled in ‘safe rooms’ after a major incident was announced.
Amie Ferris-Rotman was ordered by armed police to hide in the dialysis unit for about 45 minutes while her father was treated.
She told Sky News: ‘There were a lot of armed police officers, a lot of them walking around. And they told us they were looking for a second suspect, who was injured and was hiding somewhere in the hospital.’
Armed police are attending reports of an alleged stabbing at West London’s Central Middlesex Hospital
Footage from the scene shows emergency services flooding the hospital in London today
The alleged stabbing took place at Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal, west London
Journalist Ferris-Rotman’s father had an appointment at the dialysis and renal ward at 1:30 p.m., just after chaos broke out.
She added: “Not long after we checked in for his appointment, we heard scuffles and saw a lot of movement, a lot of police running around. Armed police suddenly ran around, suddenly all the nurses in the dialysis ward were clearly very scared and quite panicked.
“The police told everyone to evacuate immediately and the nurses said ‘no, we have people on dialysis machines, that would be almost impossible’.
“Then the police came in and did a quick check of the dialysis and kidney ward and then locked us up and had armed police at every entrance.
“They put my father, me, and two other patients in a small nurse’s room and locked the door.
‘Many patients were quite shocked and at one point those who were about to undergo dialysis were put in a wheelchair and taken to a room where we were too.
“There were a lot of police teams and different units outside. There were about 12 or 13 police cars and an incident response unit. No one was allowed in and many patients were walking around.’
She wrote on social media at the time of the alert: ‘I’m at Middlesex Central Hospital in the dialysis unit and we’re sheltering in safe rooms.
Armed police officers are at the scene and are described as a ‘major incident’.
Patients at the hospital reported being in ‘lockdown’ after a ‘major incident’ was declared
The Metropolitan Police reports that a man has been arrested
Speaking to LBC, she added LBC: ‘I lived in Afghanistan as a reporter, so I went into automatic crisis mode.
“We didn’t hear a shot or anything. There was a lot of police and they are still there, because the whole hospital has been evacuated and everyone is outside.’
Mark Thewlis tweeted that his partner was also stuck in hospital in a ‘lockdown situation’, while the suspected knife man was ‘still on the loose’.
‘Police with guns are now swarming out of the hospital. Partner has been advised to remain locked in room with colleagues/patients,” he added.
While a third said: “The whole area has been sealed off and they have evacuated as far as possible and there are now ambulances and police.”
London Ambulance Service said so far it has ‘treated two people at the scene’ with paramedics still assisting as part of the ‘ongoing incident’. London Air Ambulance was also present.
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, tweeted: ‘An incident is underway at Central Middlesex Hospital. Follow any instructions from the police.”
A spokesperson for the hospital foundation later added: “Police are on site and the hospital has been temporarily closed for a short time as a precaution.
“Working closely with the Metropolitan Police, we have now reopened the hospital and services are continuing.”
The hospital is located in the center of the Park Royal business park and is on the border between Brent and Ealing.
Armed police officers attend a scene at London’s Central Middlesex Hospital after reports of a stabbing at the scene
Police officers and ambulances arrived at the hospital around 2 p.m
Met police said they were aware of the incident and armed police were on the scene. A man has been arrested
The hospital trust confirmed there was an ‘ongoing incident’ at the hospital
London Ambulance Service said they were dealing with an ‘ongoing incident’ at the hospital
A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called today (21 June) at 1.18pm to reports of an incident at Central Middlesex Hospital.
“We have sent a number of resources to the scene, including an incident response officer, an advanced paramedic, an ambulance crew, a medic in a rapid response vehicle and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).
“We also sent the London Air Ambulance. Our teams have so far treated two people at the scene. The incident is still ongoing.’
Police officers said they will remain in hospital while the search continues, but “at this point they are confident no one else is being sought.”
The hospital has since reopened with normal services. There is an increased police presence.
A spokesman for the Met added: ‘A man has been arrested following a stabbing at Central Middlesex Hospital.
Armed officers were among those who responded to calls at 1:18 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21, to reports that two people had been stabbed.
Officers found two people with stab wounds. The first victim has injuries that are being treated as life-threatening.
The second victim’s injuries are not being treated as life-threatening.
Police arrested a man outside the hospital. He was also taken to hospital with injuries believed to have been self-inflicted. His condition is being treated as life-threatening.
“Agents remain at the hospital while the search continues, but at this point they are confident no one else is being sought.
“Police are assessing the circumstances. At this time, the incident is not being treated as terror-related.
The hospital was temporarily closed, but has now reopened and will carry out normal services.
“There is an increased police presence at the hospital as we investigate.”