Authorities apprehend middle-aged female suspect after quadruple stabbing incident in London

A violent incident unfolded in Covent Garden, a bustling area of central London, on Wednesday, when four men were stabbed in a suspected case related to mental health, according to the police.

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The incident occurred shortly before 12:30 pm local time, or 1130 GMT, and resulted in the arrest of a 47-year-old woman on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and assault.

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The woman, who remained in custody on Wednesday afternoon, had a pair of scissors seized from her by the officers at the scene.

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The four victims, aged 34, 39, 42, and 52, were rushed to the hospital, where two of them were being treated for injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

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The other two men who were attacked were discharged from the hospital within a few hours of the incident.

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Met Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart stated that the community should be reassured that the incident is currently believed to be an isolated case related to mental health, although the investigation is still in its early stages.

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Witnesses working at a nearby restaurant reported that the police used tasers to subdue the woman, who was known locally as a homeless person often seen in the area.

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According to waiter Ahmad, who declined to give his surname, the police were forced to chase the woman, who was holding a knife, before using a taser to apprehend her.

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Waiter Ahmad described the scene, saying, "I saw the lady get tased by the police, it was the only way they could get her to drop the knife."

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The police, however, did not confirm the use of tasers in their official statements regarding the incident.

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The Covent Garden street where the stabbings occurred was cordoned off with police tape for several hours, disrupting the normal activities in the area lined with stores and outdoor seating.

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Media outlets published striking images of an air ambulance helicopter landing in nearby Trafalgar Square, highlighting the severity of the incident.

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Another witness, waiter Arjan, described the chaotic aftermath of the stabbings, saying, "even the victims, they didn’t believe what was happening."

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Waiter Arjan recalled that the staff saw people lying on the ground and the police arriving immediately to respond to the incident, and noted that the woman was familiar to them as a homeless person who often went without shoes.