London stabbings: 'No evidence' suspect was radicalised

Video report by ITV News Correspondent Juliet Bremner

A man suspected of murdering an American woman and injuring five other people in a knife attack in central London is not believed to be motivated by terrorism, police say.

Evidence so far suggested the 19-year-old suspect - who is a Norwegian national - was not in "any way motivated by terrorism" and had not been radicalised, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said.

He said the incident in Russell Square on Wednesday night is likely to have been "triggered by mental health issues".

The woman killed in the attack was American, Mr Rowley told reporters, with an Australian, American, Israeli and Briton among the injured.

The Israeli tourist, a woman visiting friends and family in the UK, has been discharged from hospital after treatment and is doing "okay", according to the Israel embassy.

Two others have been discharged from hospital and two remain but their injuries are not described as life threatening.

Workers clean the pavement of blood after the attack. Credit: ITV News
A police officer stands near a forensics tent. Credit: Reuters

The assistant commissioner said that it is believed the victims were chosen at random and it was a spontaneous attack.

He said his officers were making "urgent progress" in their investigation into the deadly incident.

He confirmed the suspect and his family had been interviewed and searches had been carried out at addresses in North and South London.

"I emphasise that so far we’ve found no evidence of radicalisation that would suggest the man in our custody is in anyway motivated by terrorism," he said.