Crime & Public Safety
Covent Garden stabbing: two men remain in hospital
Two men remained in hospital on Wednesday after four men were stabbed in Covent Garden, a busy central London area popular with tourists, London's Metropolitan Police said.
A 47-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and assault after the stabbings shortly before 12:30 pm local time. Police said she remained in custody on Wednesday afternoon and that officers had seized a pair of scissors at the scene.
The victims, aged 34, 39, 42 and 52, were taken to hospital. The Met said two remained there with injuries not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing, while the other two were discharged within hours.
Met Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said the investigation was still at an early stage, but police currently believed it was an isolated mental health-related incident.
Witnesses working in a nearby restaurant told AFP that police used Tasers to arrest the woman and that she had a knife. Police did not confirm Taser use in their statements.
The street where the stabbings happened was cordoned off for several hours.
Update
Two of the four stabbed men remained in hospital on Wednesday afternoon with injuries police said were not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
The two other men were discharged within hours.
Police said the arrested woman remained in custody and officers had seized a pair of scissors at the scene.
Witnesses told AFP that police used Tasers and that the woman had a knife, but police did not confirm Taser use.
Source note: AFP news report published on 5 August 2026 at 16:00:35 UTC.
Update
London's Metropolitan Police said a 47-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and assault.
Police identified the four victims as men aged 34, 39, 42 and 52.
Police said the incident was believed at an early stage to be mental health related.
Officers seized a pair of scissors at the scene.
Emergency services were called around 12:30 pm local time.
Source note: AFP news report published on 5 August 2026 at 14:16:55 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The investigation is at an early stage.
Police did not confirm witness claims that Tasers were used.
The exact circumstances of the stabbings have not been established in the supplied information.
Source
AFP news report published on .