Police swoop on ‘knifeman’ who slashed two people at hospital before ‘turning blade on himself’

• Armed police are currently at Central Middlesex Hospital in London 

Two people have been stabbed, with one fighting for the life, after a knifeman went on a stabbing spree at a London hospital – before apparently turning the blade on himself. 

Armed officers stormed Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal, north west London, at around 1.20pm today and locked down the site for just over two hours, while terrified patients reportedly cowered in ‘safe rooms’.

A man was arrested at the scene and is also fighting for his life in hospital with what are believed to have been ‘self-inflicted injuries’, the Met said.

Inside cops found two people with stab wounds, one of which are being treated as life-threatening, while the second are being treated as minor.

The carnage is not being treated as a terror incident and no other suspects are being hunted, Scotland Yard said, amid false claims there was potentially a second attacker at large.

Among those caught up in today’s drama was Amie Ferris-Rotman was ordered to hide in the dialysis unit by armed police for around 45 minutes, while her father was getting treated.

She told Sky News: ‘There were lots of armed police, lots running around. And they told us they were looking for a second suspect, who was wounded and was hiding out somewhere in the hospital.’

Journalist Ms Ferris-Rotman said she and her father arrived at the hospital shortly before 1.30pm.

She added: ‘Not long after we checked in for his appointment we heard scuffles and saw a lot of movement, a lot of police running around. Armed police were suddenly running around, suddenly all the nurses in the dialysis unit were obviously really scared and quite panicked.

‘Police said everyone had to evacuate immediately and the nurses said ‘no we’ve got people on dialysis machines, that would be next to impossible to do’.

‘Then the police came in and did a brief check of the dialysis and renal unit and then locked us down and had armed police at every entrance.

‘They put my father, me and two other patients in a small nurses room and locked the door.

‘A lot of the patients were quite freaked out and at one point those who were about to go onto dialysis were put on wheelchairs and brought into a room, which is where we were as well.

‘Outside there were lots and lots of police teams and different units. There were about 12 or 13 police cars and an incident response unit. No one was allowed inside and lots of patients were milling about outside.’

She wrote on social media at the time of the alert: ‘I am at Middlesex Central hospital in the dialysis unit and we’re sheltering in safe rooms. 

‘Armed policemen are on the scene, being described as a ”major incident”.’ 

Speaking to LBC, she added LBC: ‘I used to live in Afghanistan as a reporter, so I went into automatic crisis mode.

‘We didn’t hear shooting or anything. There were lots of police and they’re still here because the whole hospital’s been evacuated and everyone’s standing outside.’

Mark Thewlis tweeted his partner was also trapped at the hospital in a ‘lockdown situation’, while the suspected knifeman was ‘still at large’. 

‘Police with guns swarming hospital now. Partner been advised to stay locked in room with colleagues/patients,’ he added. 

While a third said: ‘The whole area is on lockdown and they have evacuated as far as they can safely and there is now ambulances and police.’ 

London Ambulance Service it ‘treated two people at the scene’ with paramedics still helping as part of the ‘ongoing incident’. London Air Ambulance was also in attendance. 

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, Tweeted: ‘There’s an ongoing incident at Central Middlesex Hospital. Please follow any instructions given to you by the police.’

A spokesman for the hospital trust later added: ‘Police are on site and the hospital was temporarily locked down for a short period of time as a precautionary measure.

‘Working closely with the Metropolitan Police, we have now reopened the hospital and services will continue as normal.’ 

The hospital is located in the centre of Park Royal business estate and is on the border between Brent and Ealing. 

A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called today (21 June) at 1:18pm to reports of an incident at Central Middlesex Hospital.

‘We sent a number of resources to the scene, including an incident response officer, an advanced paramedic, an ambulance crew, a medic in a fast response car, and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).

‘We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance. Our teams have so far treated two people at the scene. The incident is still ongoing.’

Police officers said they will remain at the hospital as further searches are carried out but ‘at this time they are satisfied that no one else is sought’. 

The hospital has since re-opened with services operating as normal. There is a heightened police presence. 

A spokesman for the Met added: ‘A man has been arrested following a stabbing at Central Middlesex Hospital.

‘Armed officers were among those responding after calls at 1:18pm on Wednesday, June 21, to reports that two people had been stabbed.

‘Officers found two people with stab injuries. The first victim has injuries that are being treated as life-threatening.

‘The second victim’s injuries are not being treated as life-threatening.

‘Police arrested a man outside the hospital. He has also been conveyed to hospital having received injuries that are believed to be self-inflicted. His condition is being treated as life-threatening.

‘Officers will remain in the hospital as further searches are conducted but at this time they are satisfied that no one else is sought.

‘Police are working to establish the circumstances. At this time the incident is not being treated as terror-related.

‘The hospital was temporarily locked down but has now reopened and will be operating services as normal.

‘There is a heightened police presence at the hospital while we investigate.’