A 47-year-old woman has been arrested after four men were stabbed in Covent Garden in central London, the Metropolitan Police said.
The men, aged 34, 39, 42 and 52, were taken to hospital after emergency services were called to reports of a stabbing on Endell Street at about 12:30 BST.
Arrest And Current Condition
The Met said two men remain in hospital with injuries that are not thought to be life threatening or life changing. The other two have been discharged.
The woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and assault. The force said it was believed to have been a mental health-related incident.
Assistant Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said officers responded within minutes after receiving multiple reports and that, at an early stage of the investigation, police believed it to be an isolated incident.
He said a visible police presence would continue in the area while evidence is gathered.
Police Response In The Area
Crowds gathered as London Air Ambulance landed in nearby Trafalgar Square as part of the emergency response. All four victims were transported to hospital by road.
A cordon that ran from High Holborn and covered the St Mungo’s homeless centre on Endell Street has since been removed.
St Mungo’s said a spokesperson could not confirm whether anyone associated with the organisation was involved at this stage. The charity said it was working closely with emergency services and added that officers had been seen speaking to people before they entered the centre.
Witness Accounts
Arjan Gjorga, who manages a fish and chip shop on Endell Street, said he saw a woman who appeared to be attacking people at random. He said he noticed her being arrested a few minutes later and that police responded quickly.
Another witness, who did not want to be identified, said they saw the stabbings outside the Shaftesbury Theatre before the woman moved down Endell Street.
The witness added that they noticed the woman stab three people with scissors near the theatre, before the police arrived.
A staff member at a nearby barber shop said they helped one of the victims call police. The worker said the victim ran into the shop to make the call, was traumatised and panicked, but that officers arrived very quickly.
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6 August 2026
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