Two police officers were stabbed in central London early Friday and taken to hospital, London police said, adding that a man ‘with a knife’ has been arrested.
“Two officers were stabbed and are currently being treated in hospital.” “A man has been arrested” in the Leicester Square area, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement, without details on the state of health of the stabbed officers. The arrested man was also hospitalized.
The incident took place around 6 a.m. (5 a.m. GMT).
This attack comes at a time when a gigantic security device is deployed in the British capital ahead of the funeral Monday of Queen Elizabeth II.
Several hundred leaders and crowned heads from around the world are to attend the ceremony which promises to be a “massive challenge” according to the new boss of the London police, Mark Rowley.
Thousands of police officers were requisitioned for this state funeral. The United Kingdom has suffered from several attacks over the last ten years.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan described the attack as “appalling” recalling the risks taken by the police to ensure everyone’s safety.