Reading stabbing: Three dead in suspected terror attack in park

Three people have died and two are in hospital in a critical condition after a suspected terror attack at a park in the centre of Reading.

Police, five ambulance crews and two air ambulances were called to reports of multiple stabbings at Forbury Gardens at 7pm on Saturday.

Thames Valley Police said a man had been arrested at the scene and was being held in custody.

“A number of people sustained injuries and were taken to hospital,” the force added.

“A police cordon is in place in Forbury Gardens as officers investigate. We are asking the public to avoid the area at this time.”

Royal Berkshire Hospital confirmed that two people had been taken to the emergency unit for treatment to stab wounds.

The Independent understands that three people died at the scene. However police have not yet confirmed any deaths and some reports suggest as many as nine people were injured.

Counter-terrorism police and MI5 are believed to be assisting the investigation amid reports the arrested man was Libyan.

Armed police were seen entering a block of flats off the Basingstoke Road in Reading late on Saturday night.

One eyewitness said the attack looked “completely random”. Lawrence Wort, 20, told PA: “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.”

The Sunday Mirror reported that a police officer “rugby tackled” the suspect to the ground after seeing him running away with a knife.

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust said in a statement: “Multiple ambulance resources were sent to the scene including, five ambulance crews, one specialist practitioner, three ambulance officers, our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), the helicopter and critical care response unit from Thames Valley Air Ambulance and the critical care unit from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, two ambulance doctors and our colleagues from London Ambulance Service.

“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.”

Home secretary Priti Patel tweeted: “Deeply concerned to hear reports of an incident in Reading. My thoughts are with everyone involved, including police and emergency responders at the scene.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “Very concerning reports from Reading. Thank you to the police and other emergency service personnel responding.”

Boris Johnson added: “My thoughts are with all of those affected by the appalling incident in Reading and my thanks to the emergency services on the scene.”

Police said there was “no indication” the attack was linked to a Black Lives Matter protest at the park earlier in the day.

Organiser Nieema Hassan said in a video message posted to Facebook: “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.”

Thames Valley Police asked the public not to share images or videos of the incident on social media.

Additional reporting by Press Association