Commuters wake up to ARMED POLICE on streets after deadly Russell Square knife rampage
LONDONERS will wake up to armed police at tube stations, travel disruptions and heightened security following the deadly knife attack in Russell square last night.
Footage from Russell Square
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley announced shortly afterwards: "As a precautionary measure Londoners will wake up and they will notice an increased police presence on the streets including armed officers.
"This is there to provide reassurance and safety and we ask the public to remain calm, vigilant and alert."
Armed police will be patrolling London's streets after the deadly Russell Square attack
The deadly incident occurred in the heart of central London
A woman was stabbed to death and five others were injured after the attack shortly before midnight.
A 19-year old has been arrested in connection with the attack.
Although Mr Rowley added mental health is a "significant factor" in the case, he did not rule out terrorism as a motive.
Armed police keep watch at a Horseguards Parade in central London
A forensics officer appears to photograph a knife near the scene of the attack
Armed police prepare to deploy from Hyde Park
A forensics van is seen near the attack on Southampton row
Londoners will wake up and they will notice an increased police presence on the streets including armed officers
The attack comes one day after the Met Police unveiled their heavily-armed anti-terror police units who will make routine patrols around London – dubbed Operation Hercules.
The new officers will have state-of-the-art weaponry to hand along with BMW F800GS motorbikes and boats ensuring they can respond to any incident on land or in the Thames.
But armed patrols will not be the only measure Londoners will be waking up to.
London’s Russell Square ‘terror’ knife attack leaves woman dead and five injured
Transport for London (TfL) has said the incident will cause road closures in Central London.
A spokesman said on Twitter: "A4200 Russell Sq between Southampton Row & Woburn Pl - Road's closed (police incident). Traffic is on diversion. Closures might be in for long."
“One man made off on a motorbike down the wrong side of the road with the other man heading in a different direction.”
The horrific incident occurred just minutes away from Tavistock square, where 13 people were killed when Hasib Hussain blew himself up on a double-decker bus as part of the 7/7 terrorist attacks in 2005.