Two people have been stabbed, with one being left in a life threatening condition, after a suspected knifeman is believed to have gone on a stabbing spree in a London hospital – before turning the blade on himself.
Central Middlesex Hospital was placed on lockdown this afternoon, with patients claiming they were hiding in safe rooms, after a major incident was declared following reports of someone being knifed.
Two people at the hospital were found wounded, with officers arresting the suspect outside the building. One victim is said to have life-threatening injuries. The unidentified suspect was also taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries that police said are ‘believed to be self-inflicted’.
Police are still working to establish the circumstances but said it was not being treated as a terror related incident.
Emergency services rushed to Acton Lane in West London at 1.13pm, with video on Twitter showing police cars and ambulances at the scene.
Footage showed an armed officer running towards the hospital entrance, while crowds of people, surrounded by blue-light police cars, stood outside.
Journalist Amie Ferris-Rotman was with her father who was receiving dialysis treatment when they were suddenly placed on lockdown.
‘We were under lockdown in the dialysis unit. My father’s appointment was at 1.30pm and shortly after we checked in for his appointment we heard scuffles and saw movements,’ she told Sky News.
Armed police attend reports of an alleged stabbing at Central Middlesex Hospital in West London
The alleged stabbing happened at Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal, West London
‘Lots of armed police were suddenly running around and all the nurses were really scared and panicked. The police said we had to leave immediately but the nurses said no as we have people on dialysis machines so that will be possible to do.
‘Police then did a brief check of the dialysis and renal unit, then locked us down. Armed police were put at the entrance and my father, me and two other patients were placed in a small nurses room with a locked door.’
Ms Ferris-Rotman said they were locked down for around 45 minutes before being told they could leave.
She wrote on social media at the time of the alert: ‘I am at Middlesex Central hospital in the dialysis unit and we’re sheltering in safe rooms.
‘Armed policemen are on the scene, being described as a ”major incident”.’
London Ambulance Service said so far it has ‘treated two people at the scene’ with paramedics still helping as part of the ‘ongoing incident’. London Air Ambulance was also in attendance.
Patients inside the hospital reported that they were on ‘lockdown’ after a ‘major incident’ was declared
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The Metropolitan Police said a man has been arrested
Another person tweeted at the time ‘my partner is in a lockdown situation’ before adding: ‘Police with guns swarming hospital now. Partner been advised to stay locked in room with colleagues/patients.’
While a third said: ‘The whole area is on lockdown and they have evacuated as far as they can safely and there is now ambulances and police.’
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, Tweeted: ‘There’s an ongoing incident at Central Middlesex Hospital. Please follow any instructions given to you by the police.’
A spokesman for the hospital trust later added: ‘Police are on site and the hospital was temporarily locked down for a short period of time as a precautionary measure.
‘Working closely with the Metropolitan Police, we have now reopened the hospital and services will continue as normal.’
The hospital is located in the centre of Park Royal business estate and is on the border between Brent and Ealing.
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 sent a number of resources to the scene, including an incident response officer, an advanced paramedic, an ambulance crew, a medic in a fast response car, and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).
‘We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance. Our teams have so far treated two people at the scene. The incident is still ongoing.’
Police officers said they will remain at the hospital as further searches are carried out but ‘at this time they are satisfied that no one else is sought’.
The hospital has since re-opened with services operating as normal. There is a heightened police presence.
Armed police officers are attending a scene at Central Middlesex Hospital in London following reports of a stabbing on site
Police officers and ambulances arrived at the hospital around 2pm
The Met Police said they were aware of the incident and armed police were at 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
