Witnesses have described how a man went on a “mad rampage” with a pickaxe at a London hospital, attacking two people, prompting armed police to rush to the scene and wards to go into lockdown.
Some nurses were said to have panicked and locked themselves in with patients and visitors, but refused to let dialysis patients be taken out of the hospital.
Officers said they found two people with stab injuries at Central Middlesex Hospital, one of whom was left fighting for their life.
A man arrested outside the hospital had inflicted life-treatening injuries on himself, according to the Metropolitan Police.
As the attacks happened, some hospital patients were told to stay in their rooms for around two hours, while officers carried out a search.
A steeplejack there to repair a chimney said he saw the alleged attacker chase two men who managed to escape.
Gareth Browne said the suspect screamed at him: “Get out of my f****** way – this is none of your business”, before running into the hospital.
A visitor at the hospital, near Acton in west London, tweeted: “I am at Middlesex Central hospital in the dialysis unit and we’re sheltering in safe rooms. Armed policemen are on the scene, being described as a ‘major incident’.”
Amie Ferris-Rotman, whose father had an appointment at the dialysis and renal unit just after the chaos broke out, told Sky News: “Not long after we checked in for his appointment we heard scuffles and saw a lot of movement, a lot of police running around.
“Armed police were suddenly running around, suddenly all the nurses in the dialysis unit were obviously really scared and quite panicked.
“Police said everyone had to evacuate immediately and the nurses said ‘no we’ve got people on dialysis machines, that would be next to impossible to do’.
“Then the police came in and did a brief check of the dialysis and renal unit and then locked us down and had armed police at every entrance.
“They put my father, me and two other patients in a small nurses room and locked the door.
“A lot of the patients were quite freaked out and at one point those who were about to go onto dialysis were put on wheelchairs and brought into a room, which is where we were as well.
“Outside there were lots and lots of police teams and different units. There were about 12 or 13 police cars and an incident response unit. No one was allowed inside and lots of patients were milling about outside.”
Mark Thewlis tweeted: “My partner is in lockdown situation. Person still at large by all accounts.
“Police with guns swarming hospital now. Partner been advised to stay locked in room with colleagues/patients.”
A few minutes later he added: “OK, they’ve been safely evacuated and one person has been detained by all accounts.”
“He has also been conveyed to hospital having received injuries that are believed to be self-inflicted. His condition is being treated as life-threatening,” they said.
“Officers will remain in the hospital as further searches are conducted but at this time they are satisfied that no one else is sought.
“Police are working to establish the circumstances. At this time the incident is not being treated as terror-related.
“The hospital was temporarily locked down but has now reopened and will be operating services as normal. There is a heightened police presence at the hospital while we investigate.”
An air ambulance was sent to the site.
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hosptial, urged people to follow any instructions given by police.
“Police are on site and the hospital was temporarily locked down for a short period of time as a precautionary measure. Working closely with the Metropolitan Police, we have now reopened the hospital and services will continue as normal,” the trust said.
Appointments that were cancelled may have to be rescheduled, it added.
