Reading terror attack: First victim named as security sources say Khairi Saadallah may have wanted to join Islamist group abroad
Follow the latest updates
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Three people have died and another three lie injured after being stabbed by a knife-wielding assailant in a park in Reading on Saturday evening, Thames Valley Police have confirmed.
The attack took place at around 7pm in Forbury Gardens in the town centre, with police subsequently arresting 25-year-old Libyan national Khairi Saadallah at the scene on suspicion of murder. They now say the are investigating the matter as terror-related, with security sources telling The Independent that he may have tried to travel abroad to join an Islamist group.
“Kind and gentle” teacher James Furlong was named by The Holt School as one of those killed. In response to the “appalling” incident, prime minister Boris Johnson has said that “if there are changes that need to be made to our legal system to stop such events happening again, we will not hesitate to take that action”.
Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load
Hello and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of events in Reading after three people were killed and three more injured in a knife attack in a local park.
Three dead and three injured in knife attack in Reading park
Three people have died and another three lie seriously injured after being stabbed by a knife-wielding assailant in a park in Reading on Saturday evening, Thames Valley Police have confirmed.
The attack took place at around 7pm in Forbury Gardens in the town centre, with police subsequently arresting a 25-year-old Libyan man at the scene on suspicion of murder.
Officers added the incident is not currently being treated as terror-related and they are not looking for anyone else after the attack on Saturday at around 7pm.
Detective chief superintendent Ian Hunter said: "We have made one arrest and at this stage we are not looking for any other people in connection with this incident.
"There is no intelligence to suggest that there is any further danger to the public, however we urge people to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious by calling police."
There was a initially a suggestion that the incident was being treated as terror-related but Hunter said terrorism was not being considered as the motive.
"Officers are keeping an open mind as to the motivation for the incident and are being supported by colleagues from Counter Terrorism Policing South East," he said.
At least two casualties are being treated in the emergency department of the Royal Berkshire Hospital, a spokeswoman said.
Hunter urged people to continue to stay away from the area as police conduct their investigation.
"Police cordons continue to be in place and are likely to be for some time as we work to establish the circumstances of what has happened. You will also see an increased police presence in the area as we continue to make enquiries.
"I would urge the public to avoid the area at this time and thank the community for their patience.
"The thoughts of everyone at Thames Valley Police are with those who have been affected by this tragic incident and I understand the concern that this will have caused amongst the community.
"Please be assured that safety of the public is our primary concern and we will do all that we can to investigate this incident robustly and bring those responsible to justice."
Libyan man, 25, arrested as police investigate motive
Lizzie Dearden and Kim Sengupta have this report on the arrest made last night as police search for the attacker's motive, which was initially thought to be terror-related but is now being treated as a murder probe, with detectives saying they are keeping an "open mind".
Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sky News on Sunday morning, health secretary Matt Hancock stressed police have "not currently stated this is a terrorsim investigation" as he discussed the "shocking" event in Reading.
"The police are clearly investigating, they have not currently stated this is a terrorism investigation but rather a murder investigation and my heart goes out to the family and friends of the victims and clearly it's a shocking event," he said.
Boris Johnson expresses sympathy after 'appalling' incident
The prime minister Boris Johnson has described yesterday's attack in Reading that left three people dead as "appalling".
"My thoughts are with all of those affected by the appalling incident in Reading and my thanks to the emergency services on the scene," he tweeted.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer offered his thanks to the emergency services attending the scene.
"Very concerning reports from Reading. Thank you to the police and other emergency service personnel responding. Please follow the advice of the PoliceChiefs," he tweeted.
Home secretary Priti Patel said she was "deeply concerned" by the reports emerging from the attack while business secretary and MP for Reading West Alok Sharma also took to social media to thank emergency services.
"My thoughts are very much with all at ThamesVP and others who are dealing with this incident and those who have been affected," he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Reading Borough Council leader Jason Brock tweeted he was "shocked and appalled" by the incident.
"I join residents across Reading in being shocked and appalled following the incident at Forbury Gardens," he said. "My immediate thoughts are with the families of all those who have died or have been injured.
"All of us at ReadingCouncil condemn this horrific and senseless attack in the strongest possible terms. We also offer our continued support to the emergency services who responded so quickly."
Witnesses urged not to post footage on social media
Police and politicians have banded together to urge people not to share any footage of the Reading stabbing incident online.
While police have urged anyone with footage of the attack to come forward, they also stressed the importance of not posting any footage online out of respect for the victims' families.
Detective chief superintendent Hunter said in a statement: "We are... aware that the incident was captured on mobile phones and would like to hear from anyone who has video footage.
"Out of respect for those deceased and injured, along with their loved ones, please do not circulate this footage on social media - this will be incredibly distressing."
That message has been echoed by a number of politicians, who took to social media to encourage their followers to abide by the police's directions.
Policing and justice minister Kit Malthouse tweeted: "An horrific, dreadful incident. Deepest sympathies to all affected. Please do not speculate or share footage online. Help the police. All information should be provided to ThamesVP."
Labour shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy asked anyone with video of the incident to be mindful of the effect the footage might have on the victims' loved ones.
"Terrible news emerging from Reading tonight. Please don't share videos. Lives have been lost and families are anxious for information. Please continue to feed in any information to the police who are doing an incredible job," she tweeted.
No connection to Black Lives Matter protest
Detective chief superintendent Hunter said there was no connection to the Black Lives Matter protest in the town earlier on Saturday.
"I can confirm that this incident is not connected. It occurred around three hours after the protest had concluded," he said.
Nieema Hassan, an organiser of the Reading protest, posted on Facebook that demonstrators had dispersed by the time of the attack.
She added: "In terms of the protest and people that attended from Black Lives Matter, we're all safe, none of us are affected.
"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."
Eyewitness: 'He stabbed three of them, severely in the neck, and then turned and started running towards me'
Personal trainer Lawrence Wort, 20, who said he was around 10 metres from the attack, told the PA: "The park was pretty full, a lot of people sat around drinking with friends, when one lone person walked through, suddenly shouted some unintelligible words and went around a large group of around 10, trying to stab them.
"He stabbed three of them, severely in the neck, and under the arms, and then turned and started running towards me, and we turned and started running.
"When he realised that he couldn't catch us, he tried to stab another group sat down, he got one person in the back of the neck and then when he realised everyone was starting to run, he ran out the park."
Muslim journalist says she's received death threats on Twitter for posting picture of herself in park on same day as Reading attack
Novara Media contributing editor Ash Sarkar says she has been inundated with abusive messages and even death threats on Twitter overnight for posting a picture of herself online eating an ice lolly in a park in Hackney, east London, which some have apparently misconstrued as gloating over the horrific incident in Reading rather than a simple case of unfortunate timing.
Reading stabbing attack declared terror incident, say Thames Valley Police
The police are now saying yesterday's incident was terror-related after all, as it was originally understood to be:
Here's our breaking story.
PM briefed on latest from Reading
According to a Downing Street spokesman, Boris Johnson this morning "held a meeting at 9am with security officials, police and senior ministers in No. 10.
"The PM was updated on the ongoing investigation into the fatal stabbings in Reading yesterday."