Stabbing a terrorist incident – Police

UPDATE A 29-year-old man identified as Muhaydin Mire, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday morning (December 7) accused of the attempted murder of a 56-year-old man at Leytonstone Underground Station, and was remanded in custody until Friday when he will appear at the Old Bailey.

BRITISH police investigating a stabbing at Leytonstone Tube station on Saturday evening which they have labelled a terrorist incident have been searching a residential address in London. A 56-year-old man was stabbed by a knifeman who reportedly shouted: “this is for Syria” A spokesperson for the Metropolitan police said his injuries were not thought to be life threatening. A second man received minor injuries in the attack and a woman was threatened but unhurt.

The suspect, 29, was tasered by police before being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He remains in police custody. The stabbing is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service’s counter terrorism officers.

Downing Street said it was monitoring the situation closely.

A Leytonstone eyewitness said “All of a sudden people started running out of the station.”

Salim Patel, 59, was in his station shops as the attack unfolded:

“I heard some shouting, but sometimes drunk people shout. Then I saw the guy attacking the victim, punching him so hard. The victim was screaming ‘please somebody help me. Help’.

“Then the attacker started kicking him on the floor. I think the victim was unconscious, he passed out. Then the attacker took a knife out and started stabbing him as he lay on the floor”.

Passengers reportedly shouted at the man to drop his weapon, one yelled “You ain’t no Muslim bruv,” a sentiment which has been picked up on social media

Commander Richard Walton, from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said the attack was being treated as a “terrorist incident”. He added: “I would continue to urge the public to remain calm, but alert and vigilant.