Police investigating a knife attack at an east London tube station have charged a man with attempted murder over the alleged stabbing of a commuter.
Scotland Yard named the suspect as Muhaydin Mire, 29, from Leytonstone, who is charged over the attack on a 56-year-old man on Saturday evening at Leytonstone underground station.
Detectives and the security services were investigating whether the alleged attacker was acting alone. The incident took place after months of warnings from security officials that there has been an Isis-inspired drive to kill on Britain’s streets.
Two men were reportedly attacked at the station by a knife-wielding man who eyewitnesses said had declared: “This is for Syria.”
The episode was captured by fellow commuters, who filmed it on their phones and spread it on social media. The man was eventually overpowered by police officers, who used a Taser to disable and disarm him.
Graphic footage of the attacks posted online soon after the incident showed a large pool of blood spattered on the station floor. The video appeared to show the attacker gesticulating wildly and confronting people in the station, before slashing a man in the area of his throat.
The Metropolitan police said Mire would appear at Westminster magistrates court on Monday charged with attempted murder.
Police have increased patrols at transport hubs to “identify and deter terrorism” after the incident.
Asst Ch Con Mark Newton of British Transport police said: “The safety of the travelling public remains our top priority. In addition to our usual specialist response teams, last week we launched Project Servator, deploying even more highly visible police patrols designed to identify and deter terrorism.
“Following Saturday’s incident, we are now deploying still more officers in this role. They involve both uniformed and plainclothed officers, supported by other resources, such as armed officers, police dogs, a network of CCTV cameras and the thousands of rail staff we work alongside. We ask the public to remain calm and carry on using public transport as normal.”
