Police have arrested a man at the scene of stabbings in Reading in which three people are feared dead and two are in critical care in hospital.
The Telegraph understands the incident, which happened at around 7pm, is being treated as terror-related. Armed police carrying shields were seen entering a block of flats in Basingstoke Road and counter-terrorism police are at the scene.
The arrested man is understood to be Libyan.
A source told the Telegraph there were three individuals declared dead at the scene and two transferred to the emergency department of Royal Berkshire Hospital, where they are receiving resuscitation.
Thames Valley Police said: "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."
Follow the latest updates below.
11:22 PM
Counter-terrorism officers at the scene
Counter-terrorism police are at the scene in Reading, while The Guardian is reporting that the security service, MI5, are also assisting the investigation.
10:39 PM
Armed police outside block of flats
Armed police have been seen outside a block of flats off Basingstoke Road in Reading.
Police were outside the flats off Basingstoke Road - PA
09:56 PM
In pictures: Emergency services on the scene
Police have cordoned off areas of the town - GETTY IMAGES Air ambulances landed in the park to treat the wounded - PA Police have blocked access to Forbury Gardens - PA
09:46 PM
PA: Suspect is Libyan
A security source has told the Press Association that the man who has been arrested is Libyan.
09:43 PM
'He stabbed people in the neck'
An eyewitness has described how the attacker stabbed people in the neck and set upon a group of 10 people.
Lawrence Wort, 20, a personal trainer from Chippenham, told the Press Association: "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."
09:37 PM
Incident 'terror-related'
The Telegraph has learnt that the incident is being treated as terror-related.
09:33 PM
'Nurse told me three people are dead'
Allister Smith, who was in the out-of-hours department of the Royal Berkshire Hospital earlier today, told BBC Radio 5 Live that a nurse at the hospital told him three people have died.
"I was being seen by a nurse who was taking my vitals. 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.
"Later on she said again that there were three stabbings, she thought it was gang related and there were multiple stab victims."
Asked again he said: "She(nurse) said there were three fatalities."
09:29 PM
Prime Minister thanks emergency services
My thoughts are with all of those affected by the appalling incident in Reading and my thanks to the emergency services on the scene.
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 20, 2020
09:26 PM
Do not share footage, says minister for policing
Kit Malthouse, the minister for crime and policing, as echoed calls for social media users not to share footage of the incident.
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 @ThamesVPhttps://t.co/eVPVKFlKx7
— Kit Malthouse MP #StayAlertSaveLives (@kitmalthouse) June 20, 2020
09:25 PM
Keir Starmer 'very concerned'
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, has described the stabbing in Reading as "very concerning".
He urged people to listen to the National Police Chiefs' Council and not share footage of the incident that has been circulated online.
Very concerning reports from Reading. Thank you to the police and other emergency service personnel responding. Please follow the advice of the @PoliceChiefs. https://t.co/hkpLiIR0kq
Black Lives Matter organisers: incident unrelated to protest
Black Lives Matter organisers said the incident was not related to a protest march in the area earlier on Saturday.
Nieema Hassan told the BBC: "In terms of the protest and the people who attended from Black Lives Matter, we're all safe.
"None of us are affected. We had all left by the time this happened."
08:59 PM
Police confirm a 'number' of people injured
Thames Valley Police have said: "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."
08:57 PM
Alok Sharma: My thoughts are with those affected
Alok Sharma, the business secretary and MP for Reading West, said his thoughts are with the people affected and with Thames Valley police:
My thoughts are very much with all at @ThamesVP and others who are dealing with this incident and those who have been affected - please follow @ThamesVP for updates https://t.co/drT6iZRANQ
Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, has pleaded with social media users not to share videos of the incident.
There appears to be a serious incident tonight in Reading with reports of multiple stabbings. Can people please stop sharing videos in the media of the alleged incident, it is incredibly upsetting for both the victims and their families. Let our emergency services respond now
A spokesman for Thames Valley Air Ambulance told the Telegraph: "Our guys are down there, we do have a number of resources down there assisting, working alongside South Central Ambulance Service and the police. "
"We've got a number of patients that are being cared for and treated at the moment, but that is about as much information as I have at the moment. "
"All I know is there are a number of patients down there and we are assisting as part of a large response."
The spokesman said he could not comment on the number of individuals injured, nor whether anyone had been killed.
We are aware of reports of an incident in Forbury Gardens, Reading.
Officers are on the scene and investigating the incident.
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