A man is fighting for his life after a knife attack outside Britain’s Home Office in central London, police said Thursday.
Another man was arrested and is in custody over the incident, which happened in Marsham Street, Westminster shortly after 1pm local time.
Part of the street was cordoned off and staff inside the Home Office were reportedly told to remain inside.
An injured man was pictured at the scene being led away by paramedics; it was unclear if he was the same victim referred to by police.
It comes only a day after the Home Office launched a campaign against knife crime by printing messages on fried chicken takeaway boxes.
We are rolling out our #KnifeFree chicken boxes in over 210 chicken shops in England and Wales, including Morley’s, Dixy Chicken and Chicken Cottage. They use real life stories to show people how they can go #KnifeFree. pic.twitter.com/vrG4WWa56v
— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) August 14, 2019
“All my thoughts are with the victim and their family following horrific unprovoked knife attack on Marsham Street,” Home Secretary Priti Patel wrote on Twitter.
“Officers attended to find one man with knife injuries,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. “The injuries are currently being treated as life threatening. London Ambulance Service attended the address where they are with the injured party.
“One man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and taken to a police station. Enquiries are ongoing into the exact circumstances of the incident.”
Police called at 13:06 to Marsham Street, Westminster following a report of a man with a knife. Officers attended to find one man with knife injuries.@Ldn_Ambulance attended where they are currently with the injured man.
One man arrested and is in custody. More to follow.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 15, 2019