eyewitnesses. we of the possible eyewitnesses. we have seen lots of videos people have taken outside their windows, waking up taken outside their windows, waking up to police filling their usually quiet residential streets, ambulance workers, lots of noise as reported by eyewitnesses and members of the public. they could hear the police activity, police responding to this emergency situation and they woke to the sounds of police yelling and trying to bring this incident under control. we know the incident has been brought in to control, it is believed this man they have arrested at the scene was acting alone and please do not believe it was a terror —related incident. he is now in custody and the five potential victims taken to hospital, we believe two of those people taken to hospital our police officers, that two police officers were hurt in this incident and as we heard earlierfrom sadiq khan, the mayor,

he praised them for running towards danger to protect others, and goes on to say that from the bottom of his heart. we have also heard from the local mp and the labour leader, keir starmer, saying all four news coming from hainault, thoughts are with the victims, thankful for the first responders on scene. —— awful news coming from hainault. you can see the police filling that quiet street, it is now a lot quieter. these are the pictures, the latest pictures from the police helicopter, but we have had lots of vision throughout the morning coming in from members of the public who woke to these terrifying scenes. the police commissioner has acknowledged the terror people would have felt looking at this scene first thing in the morning and how terrifying that would have been. so ijust want to run through some of the latest things we know in case you are just joining us. five people had been

taken to hospital, there were multiple ambulances sent to the scene and all five people who were treated at the scene have now been taken to hospital. we know that the home secretary is receiving regular updates on this incident in north—east london and he wrote on twitter, now known as x, my thoughts are with those affected, he also thanked emergency responders and again urged members of the public not to speculate or share footage online. there is a theme we are seeing where lots of people, from the local mp up to home secretary james cleverly, who you can see that, urging people not to speculate or share footage online, but lots and lots of footage has already been shared. this was an area in north—east london, you can see it here, a residential area which is now filled with lots of police, emergency services, they will be very busy through the day collecting evidence, speaking to as many

eyewitnesses as possible and the mayor of london, sadiq khan, urging people to come forward with any information, in his statement he writes there was no honour in staying silent. people are being urged to come forward to speak to police and if they want to do so anonymously, to call crimestoppers. a36—year—old man was arrested at the scene and there is footage that the bbc has of the alleged attacker wearing a yellow sweatshirt, walking around a residential area in hainault and that is the latest verified vision that you can see. this is the alleged attacker believed to be the 36—year—old man. he was arrested at the scene. thank you very much indeed to courtney, in the newsroom monitoring the situation. these are pictures from a helicopter way can see the police are still there with the cord and in the hainault area of london.

if you arejustjoining us, let me update you with the latest on the serious incident. police were called shortly before seven o'clock this morning to reports of a vehicle being driven into a house in thurlow gardens near hainault tube station in north—east london. there were reports people had been stabbed. the suspect, the police say, went on to attack other members of the public and two police officers. london ambulance service say that their staff treated five people at the scene and took five people to hospital. so all five people who were treated at the scene are in hospital. this is footage that was posted on social media of the alleged suspects holding a knife, which the police have described as a sword. those who were injured, their condition is not known at the moment. 36—year—old man was arrested

at the scene and is in custody. crucially, the police say that there is, as far as they are concerned, no ongoing threat to the public and that the incident does not appear to be terror —related. the london mayor issued a statement in which he said that the police and emergency services ran towards danger. several people, including two police officers, were hurt. as you can see from these pictures, hainault, built up from these pictures, hainault, built up area with lots of houses and some of the eyewitnesses have been talking about how the suspect ran down an alleyway. i just want to read you one eyewitness that has been speaking, talking about how a man dressed in yellow was jumping over fences. man dressed in yellow was jumping overfences. the man, who asked not to be named, said that he had

shouting, he had shrieking. he said he thought, he would be shrieking at this time in the morning? remember, this time in the morning? remember, this was around seven o'clock in the morning. this eyewitness said, the shrieking sounded like the police, when they are ordering someone to stop or to get on their knees. it was like that, he said. it was like, stop where you are, put that down. he said he looked out of the back window because the noise was coming from the back and saw a man dressed in yellowjumping over some fences. he then went down an alley like he was going back on to the street again. this eyewitness also saying that he saw a policeman and policewoman. what he described as normal coppers with the short—sleeved shirt, who chased after him and they were shouting for him to put it down. so from the eyewitnesses that we are beginning to hear from there, eyewitnesses that we are beginning to hearfrom there, it eyewitnesses that we are beginning to hear from there, it does seem that the man with a knife ran down some of these streets that you can

see in hainault. another witness said that they saw a suspect in an alleyway before they heard a woman scream. and sadik khan in his statement, praised those emergency services, thanked them for, as he put it, running towards danger. he said the police officers and emergency services show the best of our city, running towards danger to protect others and he said he wanted to thank them from the bottom of his heart —— sadiq khan. let us go straight to the scene. my colleague is there at the scene. you have just got there. just describe what you can see? ., . . got there. just describe what you can see? ., u, , got there. just describe what you can see? ., , , ., can see? you can see behind me a ma'or can see? you can see behind me a major incident _ can see? you can see behind me a major incident has _ can see? you can see behind me a major incident has been _ can see? you can see behind me a major incident has been declared i can see? you can see behind me a i major incident has been declared and the cord and comes right back here.

you can see the bridge over there, thatis you can see the bridge over there, that is where the station is and it is to the road to the left that it is to the road to the left that it is believed that much of the incident took place. a few hours ago here. we have spoken to a local resident here he was just surprised and sad and unshaken that something like this should happen here. he said it is normally very quiet along these roads and very surprised to hear what has been going on this morning. i guess, also that reflects the thoughts of the deputy assistant commissioner from the met he was saying earlier that the whole community must be feeling shock and alarm and that is what we have certainly found on just arrival here. separately, that it is not an ongoing incident that will be reassuring to people here. nevertheless, hainault tube station remains closed behind me. it is now four hours since the police were called, just before 7am this morning won rolled man was —— when a

36—year—old man was arrested. before that, the police hearing that a car had been driven into house and there had been driven into house and there had been driven into house and there had been reports of stabbings and then subsequent to that, members of then subsequent to that, members of the public and police officers were also involved in the incident. and we have seen those pictures online, unverified footage of a man wearing yellow top with a very large knife. the police are describing it as a sword. now we know that five people, he retreated on the scene for injuries, have been taken hospital. just describe the amount of police that are there and we can see behind you there is a third match in place. how wide an area of the police dealing with in hainault? —— cordon. yes, this is as far as we are allowed to go. residents are allowed allowed to go. residents are allowed a bit further to the next cordon and

then he can see the bridge, where then he can see the bridge, where the incident took place. the ambulance service where, the fire service were here. we know that they have left the scene. the helicopters about are mostly with immediate then the police. these cordons seem to be set up for quite a while. it doesn't seem at the police will be moving anytime soon and the station itself remains closed because there will be a lot of investigating to do. in terms of seeing this gentleman moving from house to house while the police were screaming at him and there has been a lot of information that they need to gather from the streetjust that they need to gather from the street just to the left of us, that they need to gather from the streetjust to the left of us, it is next that bridge by the tube station there. a, ., next that bridge by the tube station there. n_ ., ., ., ., next that bridge by the tube station there. ., ., ., ., ., there. the mayor of london and indeed james — there. the mayor of london and indeed james cleverly _ there. the mayor of london and indeed james cleverly urging i there. the mayor of london and - indeed james cleverly urging people to come forward with any video or information that they have because of course, this happened at seven o'clock in the morning, which is the start of the rush hour in london and

hainault in the central line, a lot of people would have a journey from there into central london? yes of people would have a journey from there into central london?— there into central london? yes and most peeple _ there into central london? yes and most peeple are — there into central london? yes and most people are asleep _ there into central london? yes and most people are asleep at - there into central london? yes and most people are asleep at that - there into central london? yes and | most people are asleep at that hour orjust waking up, alone at home or whether families, orjust waking up, alone at home or whetherfamilies, just orjust waking up, alone at home or whether families, just things together. so the thought of looking out of the window and seeing a police officer shouting at a man driven door—to—door with a large knife would have been terrifying the people here. there has been footage on social media showing their suspect and what we can say is that the home secretary is asking people not to speculate, not to share information online. james cleverly is asked to pass on all the information and at the moment to the police and as you have said, keir starmer, the leader of the opposition, saying that his thoughts are with all of the victims. we know that there are at least five people who have been injured in this. all of them have been taken to hospital, two of them, we think our police officers. h, . two of them, we think our police officers. ,., . _ ., officers. the police saying that they don't _

officers. the police saying that they don't believe _ officers. the police saying that they don't believe there - officers. the police saying that they don't believe there is - officers. the police saying that they don't believe there is any | they don't believe there is any ongoing threat. from what you can see there at the scene, that definitely seems to be the case. it has calmed down a lot and just accordion is that investigation continues. —— a cordon. accordion is that investigation continues. -- a cordon. there was a radio police — continues. -- a cordon. there was a radio police presence _ continues. -- a cordon. there was a radio police presence -- _ continues. -- a cordon. there was a radio police presence -- already - continues. -- a cordon. there was a radio police presence -- already a i radio police presence —— already a police presence at 745. the police were called at seven m and we saw them shouting at the suspect in the footage that would release. you can imagine that things are pretty under control here. the police do not believe it is terror —related, they do not believe it is an ongoing threat and they have arrested a man so from that point of view,, it would tell us that nothing else is taking place at the moment. find would tell us that nothing else is taking place at the moment. and we have season — taking place at the moment. and we have season footage _ taking place at the moment. and we have season footage of— taking place at the moment. and we have season footage of buses - taking place at the moment. and we have season footage of buses that l have season footage of buses that have season footage of buses that have been stopped. i would imagine that the transport situation around the area, there would be problems because of the cordons that have

been put in place?— been put in place? yes, we have exosed been put in place? yes, we have exoosed a _ been put in place? yes, we have exoosed a bit — been put in place? yes, we have exposed a bit of _ been put in place? yes, we have exposed a bit of traffic _ been put in place? yes, we have exposed a bit of traffic as - been put in place? yes, we have exposed a bit of traffic as we - exposed a bit of traffic as we approach the area. i think the main thing is that there is no thoroughfare for what is normally a very busy road at this time in the morning. so local residents obviously not able to operate as normal at the moment. the police feeling relatively calm, though. but yes, as you can see, there is a large area now still cordoned off. have you as you are justjoining us on bbc news, just remind us —— the viewers who arejust on bbc news, just remind us —— the viewers who are justjoining us, remind us what happen this morning? shortly before seven m, police were called about reports of a vehicle driving into a house. in the area thurlow gardens, just behind become aware that bridge. it is a rowjust

off this main road, to the left. yards away from the station there. they were called to an incident after reports other car driving into after reports other car driving into a house in the area. there are reports that people had been stabbed. we saw pictures of police getting very close to suspect, seen wearing a yellowjumper and holding a very large knife, which that delhi met the police have described as a sword. there was speculation that it was a samurai sword on social media. the suspect then went on to attack members of the public after those initial stabbings and also to police officers and at the moment, we are waiting for details of the conditions of those people. we know that five people have been injured, that five people have been injured, that includes at least two police officers and we know that they were all treated at the scene and they have now been or taken to hospital.

right now, three hours on from those reports, the arrow remains cordoned off, a major incident has been declared here —— the road remains cordoned off. investigations are taking place around the corner from where you can see at the end of this road and that is the latest. indie where you can see at the end of this road and that is the latest.— road and that is the latest. we are seeinu road and that is the latest. we are seeing eyewitness _ road and that is the latest. we are seeing eyewitness reports - road and that is the latest. we are seeing eyewitness reports of- road and that is the latest. we are i seeing eyewitness reports of people talking of shrieks and screams and the police saying, it must have been terrifying for the police who were there at that time in the morning. yes, you can only imagine hearing out of your window early in the morning, shouts from the police understand. at that point, from what we have seen from this unverified footage from social media, this gentleman is going from house to house and the police are not very close to him. and so you can imagine, as the deputy assistant commissioner has said, this has been terrifying for the community in that

hour or so that this incident took place. we don't know the exact timings of how long it lasted yet but certainly, i would suspect a lot of people and and age would have taken out their phones and i would be quite a lot of videos of the incident and what took place. no mention at the moment of wireless attack took place or any specifics about who was injured —— why this attack took place. we just know that five members of the public, two police officers have been taken to hospital. indie police officers have been taken to hosital. ~ u. police officers have been taken to hosital. ~ , police officers have been taken to hosital. . , . hospital. we can see the police officers behind _ hospital. we can see the police officers behind you _ hospital. we can see the police officers behind you and - hospital. we can see the police officers behind you and the - hospital. we can see the police | officers behind you and the cord thatis officers behind you and the cord that is in place. it is obviously a a lot calmer. and edging not to post

videos on social media. the a lot calmer. and edging not to post videos on social media.— videos on social media. the feeling i aet videos on social media. the feeling i net is videos on social media. the feeling i get is different _ videos on social media. the feeling i get is different from _ videos on social media. the feeling i get is different from other - i get is different from other standings i had been at, at the moment there is a sense of calm, a sense of shock usually comes when further details are released about those people who have been involved and we are still waiting for those people, the details of those injured to be announced. we don't know if anyone has been injured critically. these kinds of things that can change the nature of these types of incidents. at the moment, the police are not given us any details about the motivation behind this attack and so, as he say, all the information that people have from that early in the morning, will be importance to them. i spoke to the local vicar of the baptist church very close to thurlow gardens around the corner here. he is unable to access his church at the moment. he

hasn't heard from any members of his congregation but obviously, where at the news from social media as well. i think everybody who will be very much aware of what happened, first on social media and now from the reports that are going out more widely and so the police will be inundated with information from eyewitnesses at the moment. i'm acting for the station will look at —— the investigation will be looking at this. -- the investigation will be looking at this. , . ., -- the investigation will be looking at this. , _, ., -- the investigation will be looking at this. , ., ., -- the investigation will be looking atthis. , ., ., , at this. this will come at a big shock for _ at this. this will come at a big shock for that _ at this. this will come at a big shock for that local _ at this. this will come at a big l shock for that local community. that's exactly the message you receive from talking to a resident here. it is not something that regularly happens here or something that you would expect, a man wielding a sword just before seven in the morning or driving a vehicle into a house. but that is exactly what has happened and i think people are trying to get the head around it. but the reassurance it has come from the met, that this is not an

ongoing incident, that it is not terror related, will push the investigation very closely on the motivations on the specific suspect, this 36—year—old man who has been arrested and that is where the focus of his investigation will now be. absolutely. and any suggestion from the police how long that cordon there is going to stay in place? we did ask there is going to stay in place? , did ask at the moment, we haven't been given any details so one suspects that it will be some time to come. a ~ ., ,. to come. mark, at the scene there in hainault. thank _ to come. mark, at the scene there in hainault. thank you _ to come. mark, at the scene there in hainault. thank you very _ to come. mark, at the scene there in hainault. thank you very much - hainault. thank you very much indeed. mark will stay at the scene and we will let him go and talk to some of those eyewitnesses. thank you very much for the latest on this incident. if you are justjoining us, a reminder that there has been a serious incident in the hainault area of east london. five people have been injured and taken to

hospital. that includes two police officers. 36—year—old man has been arrested and is in custody. police say they were called to reports of a man with a sword running around in the hainault area at around seven o'clock this morning and they say a number of people were injured. as we say, five people have been taken to hospital. we don't know their conditions. the met police saying that two officers were injured. no update yet on the condition of those people. the mayor of london issued a statement saying that he was absolutely devastated by the attack and he thanked the emergency services for what he said was running towards danger. we have a life paid up and running on the bbc news website —— life page, which has the latest from officials. there have been a lot of official statements so you can get the latest there by heading to... we will

return to the latest on that situation in hainault very shortly but first, we want to talk to politics because thursday, there are local elections which take place across england. and there are also crime and police commissioner elections, along with mayoral elections. it's getting even closer attention this year, by political pundits and parties alike, as it could give a taste of what's to come at the next general election, which is likely to take place this year. on thursday, voters will be asked to make their choices on council seats and police and crime commissioners. there are also mayoral elections in ten english regions. joining me now is charlotte wright from bbc south east in tunbridge wells, and richard moss from bbc north east

and cumbria in hartlepool. charlotte, i wonder if i can start with you. give us a sense if that he might of the issue that are muttering to the people where you are? ~ , ., ~' muttering to the people where you are? ~ , ., ~ ., are? when you think of the south-east _ are? when you think of the south-east of— are? when you think of the south-east of england, - are? when you think of the i south-east of england, think are? when you think of the - south-east of england, think of tory south—east of england, think of tory territory, of the blue wall. it is actually much more nuanced when it comes to councils and our regions, particularly over the last four years and the councils that are up for election this time around. take tanned rage in east surrey, leafy east surrey. the conservatives lost their majority in the council there backin their majority in the council there back in 2019 and what we have seen there is a rise in independent councillors and residents association. 0ne councillors and residents association. one of the big issues there is house—building. it is an area where there are two errors about mounting —— areas of

outstanding natural beauty. a lot of people avoid about overdevelopment. we have seen an increase in residents associations in places like tandridge. we have also seen a bit of change in tunbridge wells recently. there have been other parties involved in coalition, 2022, the lib dems started leading a coalition of parties on the council and it is an area that the lib dems are really pushing hard. so there is are really pushing hard. so there is a real sort of nuance across the councils across our region and some of those issues, house—building, another issue that comes up quite a lot along the south coast in places like hastings and worthing, is sewage. it is a particular concern for people in hastings because there was an flooding recently and people there found sewage backing up into some of their homes. when you go out

and about and speak to people, there are people who say we are using the opportunity to send a message to the parties in westminster, that they may be unhappy with things like nhs waiting lists or waiting times for gp appointments or the cost of living crisis comes up as well. you can see those issues that the opposition parties are pushing on as well and encouraging people to send a message to the party in westminster where their vote. lets had erected — westminster where their vote. lets had erected in _ westminster where their vote. lets had erected in hartlepool. labour there are currently one short of overall control with i am —— let's head to richard. overall control with i am -- let's head to richard.— head to richard. fairly low ambition. _ head to richard. fairly low ambition, they _ head to richard. fairly low ambition, they will - head to richard. fairly low. ambition, they will probably head to richard. fairly low- ambition, they will probably have to do much _ ambition, they will probably have to do much better than one seat. the tees— do much better than one seat. the tees valley— do much better than one seat. the tees valley area has a crucial mayor election— tees valley area has a crucial mayor election on— tees valley area has a crucial mayor election on thursday as well. 73% of the vote _ election on thursday as well. 73% of the vote last time, 30 say it is

fairly— the vote last time, 30 say it is fairly unlikely you are when by that amount _ fairly unlikely you are when by that amount. will he weigh in at all? labour— amount. will he weigh in at all? labour believe there will be huge symbolism in removing what is the poster _ symbolism in removing what is the poster boy— symbolism in removing what is the poster boy for the conservatives. that will— poster boy for the conservatives. that will cause huge problems the rishi sunak if they lost, a lot of enemies — rishi sunak if they lost, a lot of enemies would say, if he can't keep hold of— enemies would say, if he can't keep hold of the — enemies would say, if he can't keep hold of the mayor, he has no chance of avoiding _ hold of the mayor, he has no chance of avoiding huge defeat at a general election— of avoiding huge defeat at a general election so it would pile pressure on him — election so it would pile pressure on him if— election so it would pile pressure on him. if the conservatives do when her, on him. if the conservatives do when her. lahour— on him. if the conservatives do when her, labourwill say on him. if the conservatives do when her, labour will say this is a very localised — her, labour will say this is a very localised vote, nothing to do with the general election but they are gunning — the general election but they are gunning for it and they have sent keir starmer here, they have said many— keir starmer here, they have said many shadow cabinet members here. they do— many shadow cabinet members here. they do want to try and win a selection _ they do want to try and win a selection. he says he believes he has a _ selection. he says he believes he has a record on levelling up, on creating — has a record on levelling up, on creating jobs here. labour will

attack — creating jobs here. labour will attack his_ creating jobs here. labour will attack his record on whether levelling _ attack his record on whether levelling up is really being felt on the ground. i levelling up is really being felt on the ground-— levelling up is really being felt on the round. ., ., , the ground. i am also interested in the ground. i am also interested in the international _ the ground. i am also interested in the international perspective, - the international perspective, things like israel and the gaza war. is that affecting how people are thinking about voting with you? i have not picked any strong indication about that being the case — indication about that being the case i— indication about that being the case. i think there are sections of the north—east where that will play as a factor, — the north—east where that will play as a factor, perhaps in middlesbrough and sunderland, in places— middlesbrough and sunderland, in places like newcastle and tyneside. people _ places like newcastle and tyneside. people are looking a little towards the national situation but they are also looking at whether they feel they are — also looking at whether they feel they are better off, whether their communities are thriving, whether services _ communities are thriving, whether services are — communities are thriving, whether services are being delivered properly. even basics like south tyneside — properly. even basics like south tyneside council, which has been affected — tyneside council, which has been affected by a huge pinstripe, which has caused huge problems of resentment along residents. ——

bennett— resentment along residents. —— bennett strike. the resentment along residents. -- bennett strike.— resentment along residents. -- bennett strike. , ., ., bennett strike. the same question to ou, bennett strike. the same question to you. national— bennett strike. the same question to you, national and _ bennett strike. the same question to you, national and international - you, national and international concerns, are they playing out there? ~ ., , ., ., there? when we have been out and about, it there? when we have been out and about. it has _ there? when we have been out and about, it has not _ there? when we have been out and about, it has not been _ there? when we have been out and about, it has not been brought - there? when we have been out and about, it has not been brought up l there? when we have been out and | about, it has not been brought up by people we have been speaking to, the issue of gaza, for example. i think there are parts where may wells play into people's minds. in hastings, they have had a minority labour administration on the council until just before christmas when actually, eight labour councillors, including the leader and deputy leader, quit the leader and deputy leader, quit the party and became independent. they were saying they were unhappy with the national party in westminster but part of that was the party's position on gaza. so now they're hastings independence. they formed the coalition with the greens. it will give us some

indication of whether issues like girls are playing into people's minds when they vote. == girls are playing into people's minds when they vote. -- gaza. charlotte _ minds when they vote. -- gaza. charlotte right _ minds when they vote. -- gaza. charlotte right and _ minds when they vote. -- gaza. charlotte right and richard - minds when they vote. -- gaza. | charlotte right and richard moss, thank you very much. you can view a full list of candidates running in the local elections and mayoral elections. that is all on the bbc news website. all you have to do is type in your postcode into the web page that you can see about the local elections and he will also find details on all of the candidates that are running. you will find at on the bbc news website and the bbc news app. we will have special coverage on thursday night overnight but all of the results. a reminder that our main news today. there has been a serious incident in the hainault area of east london. five people had been taken to

hospital. we don't know their condition. police say they were called shortly before seven o'clock this morning over reports of the vehicle being driven into a house in thurlow gardens near hainault in north—east london. there are reports that people had been stabbed. 36—year—old suspect has been arrested and is in police custody. stay with us here on bbc news the latest. live from london, this is bbc news. five people are in hospital and a suspect in custody after an attack by a man wielding a sword in east london.

0ur correspondent witnesses a confrontation between chinese and filipino coastguard ships in the disputed south china sea. 0ne chinese coastguard ship on that side, there are three or four behind us. there are in fact so many chinese ships in this area. a leaked document suggests an iranian teenager who vanished after anti—government protests was sexually assaulted and killed by security forces. and king charles returns to public engagements today with a visit to a cancer treatment centre. welcome to bbc news. five people are in hospital after a multiple stabbing in north—east london.

that is the breaking news