Covent Garden attack thought to be mental health incident

An attack in which four men were stabbed randomly occurred in Covent Garden, a bustling tourist area in central London. The incident, which took place during lunchtime, has been described as a mental health-related episode by police. The victims, two of whom were treated in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, were walking by when the 47-year-old woman began stabbing them.

The woman in custody had scissors as the offensive weapon and was also accused of assault. A restaurant manager reported that the woman began stabbing people on a busy road in Covent Garden, while witnesses described her as incoherent and shouting in an unknown language. The police responded quickly to the scene, setting up a large cordon that stretched from High Holborn to the St Mungo’s homeless centre in Endell Street.

Despite the chaotic scene, nearby restaurants continued their operations. Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, who oversees policing in the area, assured the public that the incident was isolated and related to mental health.