Police respond to mass stabbing in Britain
London: Three people are reportedly dead and two others critically wounded in a mass stabbing in Britain in the same park where a Black Lives Matter rally was held hours earlier.
The incident occurred at 7pm on Saturday at Forbury Gardens in Reading, a city about 70 kilometres to the west of London. A rally had been held at the same park earlier in the evening but it is unclear whether the incident is linked to the demonstration.
Police arrive at Forbury Gardens in Reading following the incident.Credit:PA
British media report that three people have died and two others are critically injured. Graphic videos of the attack have been shared on social media, including of police officers performing CPR on victims.
"We would ask members of the public not to share images or video of the incident on social media, but instead to report these to the police," the Thames Valley Police said in a statement.
The statement said one man has been arrested a man at the scene. Police have not said the incident is terror-related and did not mention the Black Lives Matter rally at all.
In a tweet, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "My thoughts are with all of those affected by the appalling incident in Reading and my thanks to the emergency services on the scene."
In a video posted to Facebook, the organiser of the Black Lives Matter rally, Niemma Hassan, said the stabbing had "nothing to do with the protests".
"They were very peaceful, we worked with the police liaison the entire time and actually commented on how peaceful and how well thought out the process was today and how smoothly it all went.
"I have goosebumps knowing that this has happened only a few hours after we all peacefully came together today to talk about change and equality and it’s pretty heartbreaking that this day has been tarnished with violence."
Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was "deeply concerned to hear reports of an incident in Reading".
"My thoughts are with everyone involved, including police and emergency responders at the scene."
More to come