- Police have arrested a man on suspicion of GBH following an incident
- Bystanders on social media said the police were dealing with ‘a large crime scene’ and added the museum will be closed until tomorrow
Police have rushed to the British Museum following a knife attack this morning.
Metropolitan Police officers rushed to the popular museum and it is thought the incident has been brought under control.
Tourists were reportedly evacuated from the world-famous museum minutes after entering.
A person wrote on Twitter that there was ‘a man with a knife in the queue’ and claimed that visitors were asked to leave the museum ‘within ten minutes if entering’.
They tweeted: ‘Within ten minutes of entering, they are kicking us out. the @britishmuseum is closing due to police alert?? A man with a knife in the queue.’
The police force said they have arrested a man on suspicion of causing grievous body harm at the junction of Russell Street and Museum Street at 10am.
Bystanders on social media said the police were dealing with ‘a large crime scene’ and added the museum will be closed until tomorrow.
Keira Renee, a journalist at the Financial Times, tweeted: ‘Was just waiting in line to enter.. Being told by police that it’s a large crime scene and that the museum will be closed until tomorrow.’
Camden Police said in a statement: ‘A man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH following an isolated incident at the junction of Russell Street /Museum St approx 10am – a man was taken to hospital with a stab wound. No outstanding risk to the public.’
The Metropolitan Police said: ‘Police have arrested a man on suspicion of GBH following an incident at the junction of Russell Street and Museum Street around 10am on Tuesday 8 August.
‘A man was treated for a stab wound to the arm at the scene and taken by London Ambulance Service to hospital. His condition is being assessed.
‘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.
‘Anyone with information or footage which could assist the police investigation is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CADF 2184/08AUG, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.’