Police issue public warning following four ‘random’ stabbings in London

Detectives have urged the public to "stay vigilant"

Police have issued a warning following four "random" stabbing incidents in Edmonton, North London. Four people were attacked at separate times in the area between yesterday evening and this morning. Each of the victims was stabbed in the back. Police believe they were targeted by a single suspect "at random due to them being alone and vulnerable". A man was arrested at 10:53hrs in Enfield, North London, and Met Police say enquiries are continuing to establish if he is the individual behind the incidents. Detectives have urged the public to "stay vigilant." "Police are treating the four stabbing related incidents as potentially linked," said chief inspector Stuart Smillie. "The four victims are all from different backgrounds and appear to have been selected at random due to them being alone and vulnerable. There is nothing to suggest this incident is terror related." “We are working on the hypothesis that the single male suspect is acting alone and mental health issues may be a factor. All of the people he has targeted have been walking alone and he has approached from behind without warning. "Members of the public who have information about this suspect or have spotted someone acting suspiciously who matches his description are advised to call police on 999 and not to approach the man. "His description has been circulated to all officers in North Area who are carrying out patrols, CCTV footage enquiries and policing busy areas around where the incidents took place, particularly where he was last seen where police arrived four minutes after the call to police was made. A picture of this suspect will be circulated as soon as one is retrieved. My advice to the public in the area where these incidents took place stay vigilant, be aware of your surroundings and call 999 if you see anyone matching the suspects description behaving suspiciously." The first attack took place just after 7pm on Saturday night when a 45-year-old woman was stabbed in the back after being attacked. She remains in a critical condition. The second incident took place four hours later and a man was later taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The third stabbing led to a 23-year-old man being hospitalised. He is in a critical but stable condition. The fourth attack took place just before 10am this morning and a man was taken to hospital. He is facing potentially life-changing injuries. Police are urging anybody with information on the attacks to contact authorities.