(WatchDogReport.org) – A 36-year-old man has been arrested in the London suburb of Hainault after he allegedly used a sword to kill a 14-year-old boy and wounded four others, including two police officers.
The suspect was tased and detained 22 minutes after the police received the first emergency call. The suspect, whose name has been revealed as Marcus Arduini Monzo, is being treated in hospital for injuries obtained in the incident. Despite being unable to interview the attacker initially, the Metropolitan Police quickly ruled out terrorism as a motive, revealing that a background check showed no previous incidents involving the man.
Those wounded in the apparently random attack had injuries the Metropolitan Police described as “horrifically serious,” though they were fortunate that their injuries were not life-threatening. One victim almost lost her hand. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said that the female police officer had to have her arm practically reassembled after it was severely damaged in the attack.
The incident unfolded near Hainault’s underground train station. Police were first called after a vehicle rammed into a house and hit a 33-year-old man shortly before 7 a.m. local time. The suspect then assaulted a man, wounding him in the neck.
A 35-year-old man was attacked inside a property nearby and was left with arm injuries. Monzo then went on to stab 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, who died soon after being taken to the hospital. Anjorin was a much-loved pupil at Bancroft’s (which also lost student Grace O’Malley-Kumar in a 2023 stabbing in Nottingham).
Officers initially failed to apprehend Monzo using pepper spray and tasers before they pursued him and successfully arrested him in a nearby driveway. Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan stressed in a press release that more information on the incident and the suspect will be provided as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the incident “shocking” and said that such violence does not belong on Britain’s streets. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, long the subject of criticism over the city’s crime rates, expressed his deep gratitude to the officers and commented on how “devastated” he was following the incident. Police are continuing to investigate the suspect to gain clarity over his background and motives.
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