A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a USA citizen was killed and five other people were injured in a knife attack in central London.
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At 10.39pm a man was arrested and a Taser was discharged by one of the arresting officers, the Met said.
Rowley added the woman who was killed was an American, while those injured included nationals of Australia, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.
British police said the attacker was arrested and there was no evidence the man was radicalised or motivated by terrorism.
Rowley told the Associated Press the investigation “increasingly points to this tragic incident as having been triggered by mental-health issues”.
“We believe this was a spontaneous attack and the victims had been selected at random”. Police say he is a Norwegian citizen.
“The patrols have already started as a priority following last night’s attack”.
The authorities said there would be an increased police presence on the streets of London from Thursday “for reassurance and safety”.
They tweeted: “CST in close contact with met police since early today regarding possible terror stabbing in Russell Square”.
Police have identified the 19-year-old suspect in the Russell Square knife attack as Zakaria Bulhan from south London. A second woman and four men sustained “various injuries”, police said, none life-threatening.
The investigation was being handled by homicide command with support from counter-terrorism officers, Rowley said.
An Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said two Australians, a man and a woman, were injured in the attack; the man was hospitalized and released, and the woman will be releasde soon, she said. “We ask the public to remain calm, vigilant and alert”.
Russell Square, a large garden square in an area popular with tourists, was the site of a bus bombing in 2005 that was part of one of the nation’s deadliest domestic terror attacks.
“I urge all Londoners to remain calm and vigilant”.
Police officers and London Ambulance Service attended to the scene.
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Police chiefs and security bosses have repeatedly warned that fighters supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL also known as ISIS) group want to carry out attacks against Britain.
