The only victim killed in a stabbing spree in London was the American wife of a Florida university professor, who is spending the summer in Great Britain, when the attack started, officials said Thursday.
Advertisement
The Met said they had searched an address in north London on Thursday morning and another will be searched in south London.
FSU President John Thrasher spoke of the university’s “heartache” over the “terrible tragedy”. Wednesday night, she and five other pedestrians were suddenly attacked by a knife-wielding man in Russell Square. Investigators believe the attack was spontaneous, with victims “selected at random” as a result of mental health problems.
Scotland Yard has said no evidence has been found of radicalisation or anything to suggest the attack was “in any way motivated by terrorism”. “Ann and I are praying for her family and loved ones”.
The administrator of a fund raised by donations for survivors and family members of the Florida nightclub shooting that left 49 dead says it now has $23 million.
Matthew Barzun, US ambassador to the United Kingdom, tweeted his condolences following the attack.
The injured people were from the United Kingdom, the US, Israel and Australia.
Police were called to reports of a man attacking people with a knife in Russell Square, near the British Museum in central London – an area visited by many tourists – at about 10.30 p.m. local time Wednesday. They have said, though, that Bulhan may suffer from mental illness. He was then Tasered by officers.
Pol O’Geibheannigh, 45, was walking back from the cinema when he saw a massive police presence and a woman lying in a pool of blood.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who cut short his holiday to deal with the aftermath of the attack, said his “heart goes out the victims and their loved ones”.
Mr Rowley said there would be an increased police presence on the streets in the wake of the attack – including armed officers – to “provide reassurance and safety”. “They said that when he stabbed the people he didn’t shout or scream anything”.
He said police were doing an “incredibly hard job” and the safety of Londoners was his “number one priority”.
Sky News have named the 19-year-old attacker, a Norwegian national of Somali origin who moved to the United Kingdom in 2002, as Zakaria Bulhan from south London – he remains in police custody.
Advertisement
Tuesday’s attack has once again ratcheted up security in the British capital – following unrelated terror-style attacks in Western Europe over the last few weeks, as well as the major attacks in Paris and Belgium before that. Even with the additional armed officers, most of London’s 31,000 police officers will not be armed.
