A man stabbed in the arm near the British Museum on Tuesday morning had been queuing to enter when the knife attack happened, witnesses have said.
As he attempted to escape his attacker, the middle-aged man was reportedly “dripping blood everywhere” along the busy street packed with tourists.
The victim was rushed to hospital following the incident, which happened immediately outside the famous museum’s entrance at the junction of Great Russell Street and Museum Street in central London, around 10am.
The male suspect reportedly fled the scene but was quickly captured by police a short distance away before being arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.
The museum was evacuated and shut to the public following the stabbing.
It reopened about lunchtime on Tuesday, but with more more robust security measures in place including a “heightened search operation”.
Police said the incident was not terror-related and there was “no outstanding risk to the public”.
The manager of a nearby souvenir shop, who wished to remain anonymous, said he saw a middle-aged man stabbed while he waited in the queue for the museum on Great Russell Street, not far from the Museum Tavern pub.
He attempted to escape and was “dripping blood everywhere”, the witness claimed.
He said the alleged knifeman was arrested by police a short distance away on Coptic Street.
A local businesswoman said she heard the victim “screaming” and saw a trail of blood along the street in the aftermath of the attack.
A police tent was erected on the pavement on the museum side of Great Russell Street, just metres from the museum entrance.
London Ambulance Service said paramedics treated the victim at the scene for his arm injury “before taking him to a major trauma centre as a priority”.
“His condition is being assessed”, a Met spokesperson said shortly before lunchtime on Tuesday.
“This was an isolated incident and there is no outstanding risk to the public. It is not being treated as terror-related. The scene may be in place for much of today.”
The incident came during the school summer holiday, which typically sees huge numbers of visitors including children visit the museum.
A British Museum spokesperson said: “The museum was closed this morning due to an incident following a member of the public being attacked nearby.
“The museum’s security team supported at the scene until the emergency services arrived. Visitors were evacuated from the museum as a precaution and we wish the victim a full and swift recovery.”
George Osborne, former chancellor and chairman of the British Museum, thanked the museum’s security team and other staff who reacted promptly to the incident and wished the victim the “best recovery”.
The 52-year-old tweeted: “Disturbing news of a knife attack near the gates of the British Museum this am.
“Much thanks to our security team and other BM staff, who reacted quickly, with the police. Museum has now reopened; everyone’s thoughts at the BM are with the victim and we wish him the best recovery.”
Disturbing news of a knife attack near the gates of the British Museum this am. Much thanks to our security team and other BM staff, who reacted quickly, with the police. Museum has now reopened. Everyone’s thoughts at the BM are with the victim and we wish him the best recovery
— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) August 8, 2023
Many museum-goers told how they were evacuated from the premises on Tuesday morning.
One eyewitness said the attraction was “closing due to police alert” and reported being told there was “a man with a knife in the queue”.
Twitter user Keira Renee wrote: “Was just waiting in line to enter. Being told by police that it’s a large crime scene.”
