Woman arrested after four men stabbed in London Covent Garden

A 47-year-old woman was arrested after four men were stabbed in London’s Covent Garden on Wednesday, with police describing the incident as a mental health-related event. The attack, which occurred on Endell Street around 12:30 p.m. local time, involved a pair of scissors, according to multiple accounts and official statements. A police cordon on Endell Street has been partially lifted, though officers remain in the area to gather evidence, as reported by witnesses and local media.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that four men—aged 34, 39, 42, and 52—were injured and taken to a major trauma center. Two of the victims were discharged from the hospital, while the other two remained with injuries not described as life-threatening or life-changing, police said. A London Ambulance Service spokesperson stated that all four patients were treated at the scene before being transported by road, with a London Air Ambulance also dispatched but not carrying any patients.

Witnesses reported that the woman, described as elderly with short hair, engaged in a stand-off with police officers before being detained. An employee at 2 Chairs Grooming Room on Endell Street said one of the victims ran into the shop after being stabbed and asked for help calling police. The worker, who asked not to be named, described the victim as wearing a shirt with a hole in his back and “traumatised” but noted that police arrived “very quickly.”

A witness near the Shaftesbury Theatre said the woman stabbed three people before moving to Endell Street, where police arrived swiftly. “She just started stabbing random people,” said Arjan Gjorga, a restaurant manager who witnessed the aftermath. “I didn’t see any scissors, but I heard it was with small scissors.” Video footage from the scene showed a woman being detained by two police officers, with a large cordon in place around Endell Street.

St Mungo’s homeless charity, which operates in the Endell Street area, issued a statement expressing concern for those affected. “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this distressing incident,” the statement read. “We are working closely with emergency services to ensure that all of the people we support, in addition to our colleagues, are safe and accounted for.”

Policing officials emphasized the incident was isolated and linked to mental health. Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, who oversees the area, stated that officers responded “within minutes” of receiving reports and that the attack “appears to be an isolated, mental health-related incident.” The Met also noted that a pair of scissors was recovered at the scene, though no further details were provided about the woman’s condition or the nature of her mental health crisis.

The emergency response included a visible police presence, with a cordon established on Endell Street and surrounding areas. A London Air Ambulance was seen landing in Trafalgar Square, but all victims were transported by road. Local businesses, including a fish and chip shop and a restaurant, reported disruptions as the area was sealed off for investigations. A diner at the Byron restaurant described “lots of people panicking and fleeing” after the attack, though she did not witness the incident directly.

Police have urged anyone with information to contact them, citing reference number CAD3449/05AUG. The incident occurred in a high-traffic area of Covent Garden, a popular destination for tourists and shoppers. Endell Street, where the stabbing took place, is a short walk from Covent Garden tube station and part of London’s West End, which sees around 43 million annual visitors.

While the Met has not ruled out other possibilities, the focus remains on the woman’s mental health. A police statement reiterated that “no further individuals are being sought” in connection with the attack. The woman remains in custody as investigations continue, with officers maintaining a presence in the area to gather evidence.