London stabbing: Air ambulance rushes to Stoke Newington as locals pin down 'suspect'
POLICE have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder after an alleged knife attack in north London.
Stoke Newington: Police arrive at scene of alleged stabbing
Police and paramedics raced to the scene in Stoke Newington as bystanders tackled the suspect and wrestled him to the ground. A man in his 50s was rushed to a central London hospital after the alleged attack but his condition is unknown.
A man aged in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder
Shocking images from the scene show a large number of emergency services personnel with several ambulances and police cars blocking Stoke Newington High Street.
Witnesses claim a Jewish man was targeted in the attack before the assailant was taken to the ground and held by local construction workers.
One image shows men kneeling on the alleged attacker at a bus stop.
A witness who shared a picture of the construction workers tweeted: "Looks to be an apparent hate crime in Stoke Newington."
Community Security Trust (CST), a British charity concerned with the security of Jewish people, said that there was no current assessment on whether the attack was or was not anti-semitic.
Witness Efrayim Goldstein tweeted: "Great Job to the brave men who held him down, helping police is always nice to see.
"Let's hope the police use the full force of the law to have this criminal behind bars. Off our streets."
Another witness, Aasmah Mir, tweeted: "Caught up in aftermath of a stabbing on Stoke Newington High Street in London this morning.
"Men running, screaming 'Call The Police!'
"Heard a woman driver behind me telling a bus driver that the alleged attacker had got off his bus.
"Builders jumped on him. Absolutely terrifying."
Hackney Council confirmed part of Stoke Newington High Street has been closed by police as the investigations gets underway.
The north London council tweeted: “Stoke Newington High Street is closed between Evering Road and Stoke Newington Church Street following a police incident.
"Please avoid the area if possible.”
Scotland Yard said the incident was not terror related.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "At 10.54am police were called to reports of a male being restrained in Stoke Newington High Street, N16. Officers and London Ambulance Service attended.
"A man, aged in his 50s, was found suffering stab wounds. Another man, aged in his 40s, had been restrained on the floor by members of the public.
"A man aged in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
"He has been taken to hospital after suffering what is believed to be minor head injuries.
"The victim, aged in his 50s, has also been taken to hospital. We await further updates on his condition.
"We are not treating this as terror-related."
The incident comes as police today confirmed four people including a 13-year-old boy had been charged with assault after officers were attacked in nearby Hackney.
A male officer was outnumbered as he was punched on the ground as bystanders watched, laughed and filmed the attack on their mobiles phones.
A female colleague was jostled and pushed as she tried to intervene.