Three people are feared dead and nine injured following a suspect terrorist attack ‘by a Libyan man’ at a Reading park, two hours after a Black Lives Matter protest had taken place.
The mass stabbing, which took place at around 7pm on Saturday, led to at least two victims being taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital following the ‘serious incident’ in Forbury Gardens in Reading’s town centre.
The knife-wielding suspect was reportedly arrested at the scene by a hero lone police sergeant who rugby-tackled him to the floor.
Both Sky and the Telegraph reported that three people had died after the ‘random’ attack, while the Mirror reported that up to nine people had been injured.
Home Secretary Priti Patel, who is said to be closely monitoring the situation, said she was ‘deeply concerned’ by the incident.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also responded to the ‘appalling’ attack and thanked the emergency services.
A security source told the Press Association that the man who has been arrested is Libyan and that the attack is thought to be terror related.
A distressing video posted on social media showed four wounded people lying on grass in the park as police officers gave them CPR.
An air ambulance was pictured landing near the scene of the stabbings before it carried the injured victims to hospital.
Forbury Gardens is the site of a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest which took place earlier on Saturday but ended two hours before the stabbings. A woman who helped organise the protest said they were ‘peaceful’ and had nothing to do with the attack.
Three people are feared dead and nine injured following a suspect terrorist attack ‘by a Libyan man’ at a Reading park, two hours after a Black Lives Matter protest had taken place. Pictured: Air ambulance landed nearby after the attack
The mass stabbing led to at least two victims being taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital following the ‘serious incident’ in Forbury Gardens in Reading’s town centrePictured: Paramedics and investigators in forensic suits at the scene
Counter terror police were pictured raiding a block of flats in Reading after the attack
The attack is believed to have taken place as people enjoyed the last of the day’s sunshine at the popular park.
Speaking of the moment the suspect was arrested, a police source told the Sunday Mirror: ‘A man pulled a knife and started attacking people at random in Reading, near the Crown Court.
‘It is thought there was one attacker who has surrendered to police.
‘It appears the attack was stopped when a lone sergeant, who responded when the alarm was raised, ran to the scene, saw the attacker running away with a knife and rugby tackled him to the ground.’
The area has reportedly been locked down amid fears there could be a second suspect.
Counter terror police were pictured raiding an address less than two miles from the park.
A witness named Dan told the Sunday Mirror that the group of people who were attacked were ‘just in a circle chatting.’
He said how he thought the people were playing, ‘duck duck goose’, a children’s game which sees participants sit in a circle while someone taps them on the head.
Home Secretary Priti Patel, who is said to be closely monitoring the situation, said she was ‘deeply concerned’ by the incident
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also responded to the ‘appalling’ attack and thanked the emergency services
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has described the stabbing in Reading as ‘very concerning’
A distressing video posted on social media showed four wounded people lying on grass as officers gave them CPR. The officers were seen running towards the people on the ground
‘He [the attacker] was tapping them on the head. Then I thought someone had been sick. But it was blood spraying out,’ he said.
The man said he and his friends then got up and began to run away when the attacker began running toward Reading Station.
Lawrence Wort, 20, a personal trainer from Chippenham, said: ‘So the park was pretty full, a lot of people sat around drinking with friends when one lone person walked through, suddenly shouted some unintelligible words and went around a large group of around 10, trying to stab them.
‘He stabbed three of them, severely in the neck, and under the arms, and then turned and started running towards me, and we turned and started running.
‘When he realised that he couldn’t catch us, he tried to stab another group sat down, he got one person in the back of the neck and then when he realised everyone was starting to run, he ran out the park.’
Responding to the attack, Ms Patel wrote on Twitter: ‘My thoughts are with everyone involved, including police and emergency responders at the scene.’
Mr Johnson posted: ‘My thoughts are with all of those affected by the appalling incident in Reading and my thanks to the emergency services on the scene.’
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer described the stabbing as ‘very concerning’.
He echoed calls by the National Police Chiefs’ Council not to share footage of the incident which circulated online.
He tweeted: ‘Very concerning reports from Reading. Thank you to the police and other emergency service personnel responding. Please follow the advice of the @PoliceChiefs’.
Counter terror police were pictured raiding a block of flats around two miles from the scene of the stabbing
They were seen in body armour and carrying assault rifles as they ran into the building
The police wore bullet proof vests emblazoned with the letters CTSFO, which stands for Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officer
Another witness told Mirror Online he saw blood spurting from victims, who dropped to the ground ‘like a weight’.
A fourth described how they saw CPR being performed on at leas three people.
Allister Smith, who was being treated at the Royal Berkshire Hospital earlier today, told BBC Radio 5 Live that a nurse had told him that three people were killed in the attack.
‘I was being seen by a nurse who was taking my vitals,’ he said.
‘She seemed a bit shaken. She was chatting to one of her colleagues and then she turned round to me and said three people are dead.’
The distressing video of the aftermath of the attack showed police giving CPR to one injured person as someone else could be heard saying ‘he’s still breathing’.
Freelance journalist Claire Gould, 33, who lives near the scene, said she saw the air ambulances land on the nearby Kings Meadow as a police helicopter circled overhead.
She described hearing lots of sirens and said surrounding roads and a retail park had been cordoned off by officers.
The organiser of Saturday’s Black Lives Matter protest which took place at the scene of the stabbings, said on Facebook the earlier demonstrations were ‘very peaceful’.
Nieema Hassan said: ‘It [the incident] had nothing to do with the protests.
‘They were very peaceful and we worked with police liaison officers the entire time.
‘They actually commented on how peaceful and well done and well thought out the protest was today.
‘I am praying for the people who have been affected. I hope they are okay.’
Thames Valley Police said on Twitter: ‘Police attended at around 7pm along with other emergency services.
‘Officers arrested a man at the scene who is now in police custody.
Forbury Gardens has been the site of recent Black Lives Matter protests, including one which ended around two hours before the stabbings
Freelance journalist Claire Gould, 33, who lives near the scene, said she saw the air ambulances land on the nearby Kings Meadow as a police helicopter circled overhead. Pictured: Police at the scene
‘A number of people sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.
‘A police cordon is in place in Forbury Gardens as officers investigate. We are asking the public to avoid the area at this time.’
‘There is no indication that this incident is linked to the Black Lives Matter protest that took place in Reading today.’
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said in a statement: ‘We were assessing and treating a number of casualties who had sustained injuries as a result of the incident.
‘Thank you to all those people who stopped and helped those who were injured as a result of this situation.’
Thames Valley Police said on Twitter: ‘Police attended at around 7pm along with other emergency services. ‘Officers arrested a man at the scene who is now in police custody
The leader of Reading Council, Jason Brock, urged people to stay away from the town centre.
He tweeted: ‘Concerning reports from Reading town centre – please stay clear of the area as Police are dealing with a serious incident.’
Policing minister Kit Malthouse tweeted: ‘An horrific, dreadful incident. Deepest sympathies to all affected.
Please do not speculate or share footage online. Help the police. All information should be provided to @ThamesVP.’
Two air ambulances and several police cars have responded to the incident