Bishopsgate attack: Three stabbed near London Liverpool Street Station - what we know so far

Londoners and commuters have been left horrified after a knife attack in broad daylight in central London today.

Police and paramedics dashed to the scene and three people have been hospitalised following the incident.

Mayor Sadiq Khan has said the incident was “a reminder of the dangers of carrying a knife”.

Here’s everything we know so far:

What happened?

Three people were stabbed and one person was pushed over. Witnesses said the attack happened after someone tried to snatch a phone. It’s prompted a major response from the emergency services - and shocked city workers and visitors.

Where was the attack?

The attack took place on Bishopsgate, a street in the City of London, near Liverpool Street Station. It happened outside the skyscraper 22 Bishopsgate, which is the second tallest building in the UK, after the Shard, in London. A police cordon is now in place at the scene, guarded by City of London police officers.

When was it?

The stabbing happened this morning, (Thursday, October 6) at just before 10am. Police were alerted at 9.46am and officers arrived at the scene at 9.51am.

What have people said?

One onlooker said: "I was working across the road from where it happened, and when I went to get a coffee, I saw the commotion.

"There were ambulances and police everywhere - it looked like a real bloodbath. They’re saying the stabbing happened after bystanders challenged a bike thief - I’m just hoping the victims pull through."

Why did it happen?

Witnesses have said several people were stabbed as they tried to stop a mugger armed with a knife in front of horrified commuters.

Three people were stabbed and another pushed to the ground, witnesses reported.

The owner of a nearby shop said: “A guy tried to grab someone’s phone. People heard screaming and they tried to stop him, but then he punched one guy who fell on the floor.

“Four other guys tried to stop him and he stabbed them. When he saw those four guys he took a knife out his pocket and started stabbing.”

What have the police said?

The incident took place within the City of London, which has its own police force - seperate from the Met Police.

The City of London police force said at 10.19am on Twitter: “We are aware of an incident this morning on Bishopsgate. Our officers are at the scene and the London Ambulance Service (LAS) are in attendance. A cordon is currently in place.”

They then added at 11.29am: “We received reports of three stabbings and a person pushed to the floor on Bishopsgate at 9.46am and officers arrived at the scene at 9.51am.

“Three victims were taken by the LAS to a nearby hospital to be treated. This is an ongoing situation, but is not being treated as terror-related. This incident is being treated as a suspected robbery. Investigations are ongoing.”

Has anyone been arrested?

Police say they are looking for two suspects relating to an attempted phone theft.

A statement released at 3.08pm read: “Two suspects are being sought as part of the ongoing investigation related to an attempted phone theft and the incident is not being treated as terror-related.

“Stopping phone thefts and bringing perpetrators to justice is a priority for the City of London Police. The number of phone snatches is down, due to focused effort including working with colleagues in the Metropolitan Police Service last week to make several arrests.”

Officers also confirmed that a video on social media showing officers arresting a man in a nearby area is unrelated to the stabbing.

They said: “We are aware of a video circulating on social media which shows our officers arresting a man. This is a separate incident and does not relate to the incident on Bishopsgate this morning.”

What did the ambulance service say?

A LAS spokesperson said: “We were called at 9:52am today to reports of a stabbing in Bishopsgate. We sent a number of resources - three ambulance crews, 2 advanced paramedics, two incident response officers and our Tactical Response Unit. Our crews treated four patients. Three were taken to hospital and one discharged.”

Police said no victims had life threatening injuries.

What has the mayor said?

Speaking in the Telegraph, mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said: “We’ve been working with the City of London Police, I was given an update straightaway.

“The good news is,  it’s not a terror attack. And another piece of good news is the three victims of the stabbing are not in life-threatening situations, thank God. But it’s just a reminder of the dangers of carrying the knife.”

He added: “I’m not complacent at all. I think it’s really important to be tough on crime, invest in policing, and be tough on the complex causes of crime, invest in young people in youth workers and so forth.

“We’ve seen in London a reduction in knife crime injuries in those below 25. But also we’ve seen this year, thankfully, a reduction in teenage homicides. I’m determined to continue lobbying the government to reverse their cuts in policing and to reverse their cuts in young people.”

Former Conservative advisor Nick Timothy was critical of Mr Khan’s comments, saying: “He’s responsible for crime and policing in London. And police budgets are up.

“As always he insists the buck doesn’t stop with him. But it does.”