One dead, six hurt in possible London terror attack

One woman was killed and as many as six people were wounded in a stabbing spree in central London that police are saying may have been a terror attack.

A statement by London Metropolitan Police said “terrorism is one possibility being explored at this stage.”

An unidentified man was under arrest within moments of officers arriving on the scene, though the specific suspicions against him are unclear. Police used a stun gun on him, the statement said.

The attack took place at London’s Russell Square, a small park adjacent to the British Museum, with conflicting reports saying a knife-wielding man, or possibly more than one, attacked the woman and others standing nearby.

“Eyewitnesses have reported a police forensics tent has been erected on Southampton Row, outside the park in the center of the square, which is close to the British Museum,” the BBC reported, citing a reporter at the scene.

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According to the police statement, officers first received word of the incident at 10:33 p.m. local time, with “reports of a man seen in possession of a knife injuring people at Russell Square, WC1. Officers attended the scene along with the London Ambulance Service.”

The statement continued: “A female (no further details) was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead a short time later. We await an update on the condition of the other persons injured and details of any other injuries.”

The man was arrested minutes later, at 10:39 p.m. local time, “and a Taser was discharged by one of the arresting officers.”