The Home Office was placed in lockdown earlier today after a stabbing near its Whitehall headquarters on Marsham Street left one man receiving medical attention.
The incident around lunchtime today led to staff being told not to leave the building. The Metropolitan police confirmed that officers attended to find one man with knife injuries after a call at 13:06.
“London ambulance service attended the address, where they are with the injured party. The injuries are not life threatening.” the force said in a statement.
“One man has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and taken to a police station. Enquiries are ongoing into the exact circumstances of the incident.”
The incident was not thought to be terrorism related.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "The Metropolitan Police is investigating a knife attack which took place outside the Home Office this afternoon. The victim is receiving medical care.
"This is a deeply concerning incident and our thoughts are with him and his family.
“As this is an ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
It has been reported that the injured person is a civil servant, but the Home Office declined to confirm whether this was the case.
A London Ambulance spokesperson said its crews responded to the Marsham Street. “We treated a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre.”
Home secretary Priti Patel tweeted her thoughts were with the victim after what she called a “horrific unprovoked knife attack on Marsham Street”.
All my thoughts are with the victim and their family following horrific unprovoked knife attack on Marsham Street.
— Priti Patel MP (@patel4witham) August 15, 2019