Middlesex hospital stabbing: What we know as man arrested after at least two injured

A man has been arrested after a stabbing at Central Middlesex Hospital.

Armed police rushed to the north-west London hospital after patients and staff were said to be forced into lockdown following reports of an attack.

The Metropolitan Police said officers found two people with stab injuries.

A witness described how a man had a pickaxe and was “swinging it around”.

The first victim has injuries that are being treated as life-threatening, while the second's are not being treated as life-threatening.

A man was arrested outside the hospital and he has also been treated for life-threatening injuries that are believed to be self-inflicted.

The incident is not being treated as terror-related and, while police remain on the scene, the hospital has now reopened and will be operating services as normal, the force added.

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) said two people have been treated but added the number of casualties was “changing upwards”, the BBC reported.

It later confirmed its teams treated three people at the scene and took them to hospital.

Some reports on social media suggested that patients had to shelter in safe rooms, but this has not been officially confirmed.

Eyewitness accounts of the incident

Eyewitness Gareth Browne said: “I thought it was patients or something and he was trying to chase somebody out of the hospital.

"So I approached him to make sure he was okay and he told me 'get out my f***ing way!'

“I kind of stepped out of his way, he looked like he was going home and he’s coming back into the hospital and done what he’s done.

“He had a pickaxe and he was swinging it around, just down the side [of the hospital.]”

Mark Thewlis described the unfolding incident, adding: "My partner is in lockdown situation. Person still at large by all accounts.

"Police with guns swarming hospital now. Partner been advised to stay locked in room with colleagues/patients."

Zed Anwar tweeted that he works at the hospital and “two staff members” were stabbed.

Journalist 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: "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."

What the Metropolitan Police have said

The Metropolitan Police confirmed two people had been stabbed and a man was arrested outside the hospital with possibly self-inflicted stab wounds.

A spokesman added: “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.”

What the London Ambulance Service has said

In a statement on Twitter, London Ambulance Service said it was at the scene with paramedics and an air ambulance and hazardous environment team have also been dispatched.

LAS said: “We’ve 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 @LAS_HART.

“We also dispatched @LDNairamb. The incident is ongoing and we are working with our emergency services partners.”