Japanese sword attack in London: a teenager killed and several injured, what do we know about the suspect ?

Âgé 36 years old, the suspect appears to have acted alone. While he had not yet been able to be questioned; Tuesday evening, the terrorist motive was already there. excluded.

"Shortly before 7 o'clock" in the morning local time, this Tuesday, April 30, the police wereé contacted by witnesses to a particularly violent scene. Several people had just been attacked by a man with a Japanese sword in the north-east of London, proximity from Hainault metro station. Among the victims, a 14-year-old teenager. The young man unfortunately died. as a result of his injuries after being attacked. taken away &agrav; the hospital. According to the Guardian, four other people were allegedly killed. injured, including two police officers who both had to undergo surgery. Although their injuries were considered “significant”, their lives were not in danger. The vital prognosis of the two other injured people, passers-by, was also uncertain. 

To the British media, law enforcement revealed that having questioned the main suspect in this saber attack 22 minutes after receiving the first alert call. Hurt during the accident of his van with a building, the 36-year-old man was also injured. hospitalized. Tuesday evening, his state of health improved. had not allowed the investigators to carry out the investigation. a first hearing of the suspect. However, Louisa Rolfe, the Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, emphasized that this was not the case. that the police had "found" up to 'à There is no trace of a previous incident involving him. During a press conference, Stuart Bell, head of the local police, was able to affirm that the suspect did not seem to have had any motivation   ;quot;terrorist".

Nearly 15,000 attacks bladed weapons recorded in 2023 London

According to the first elements of the investigation, no religious motive was found ;eacute;té expressed and the individual attacked random passers-by. He was é neutralized and immobilizes thanks to à the use of a gun electric impulse. On social networks, images showing a man dressed in a sweatshirt yellow and armed hood of a katana, roaming the street in the area. The authorities have requested &agrav; do not broadcast this type of images.

This attack occurs à a few days of local elections which are held in London, and while the mayor's security record is strongly criticized; by the opposition. Le Figaro reminds that this type of attack & bladed weapons have been on the rise in recent years across the Channel. In 2023, they would have progressed by 7% to reach almost 50,000 cases recorded in Wales and England. À London, an increase of 20% is even noted. With just under 15,000 cases, the pre-Covid level was reduced. caught up.