Heavily armed cops guarding Tube stations and tourist hotspots after Russell Square rampage
Met Police's elite unit on the streets after woman is stabbed to death in possible terrorist attack
TOM GILLESPIE
HEAVILY-armed police have been out in force at London's tourist hotspots today, with the capital on edge after a US woman was slaughtered in a possible terror attack last night.
Scotland Yard has sent out its new elite unit armed with semi-automatic rifles and handguns, with officers out at Horse Guards Parade, Trafalgar Square, and St Pancras International train station.
There were armed cops at Horse Guards Parade in London today amid a heightened police presence across the capital's tourist hotspotsCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Horse Guards Parade appeared to still be busy with tourists earlier after London woke up to the news there had been a possible terror attackCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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A cop stands on Whitehall in the City of Westminster as an open top tour bus goes byCredit: Getty Images
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Officers holding semi-automatic rifles were based near Horse Guards Parade today, as detailed emerged of the alleged Norwegian-Somali killer who went on a rampage in Russell Square last nightCredit: Getty Images
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Tourist and visitor hotspots like Trafalgar Square have had a heightened police presenceCredit: Getty Images
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Police have been based at busy areas like Trafalgar Square as well as London Underground stations as the capital comes to terms with last night's bloodbathCredit: Rex Features
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The increased police presence comes after Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe's announcement yesterday that 600 hundred extra high-trained cops would be based in the capitalCredit: Rex Features
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Armed to the teeth: The Met's new-look cops have a cache of weapons at their disposal
The bloodbath near the British Museum comes after Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe warned it is case of "when, not if" there will be terror attack on the UK.
But the force's assistant commissioner Mark Rowley has told people to keep an "open mind about the motive", and that "mental health was a significant factor".
Last night's tragic knife attack comes after Mr Hogan-Howe unveiled a plan to put more highly visible, heavily-armed police, at major landmarks to deter potential attackers.
The Met sent out 600 highly trained marksmen onto the streets as part of the new anti-terror drive yesterday - hours before the Russell Square attack at roughly 10.30pm last night.
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Officers were patrolling London's St Pancras station this afternoon after yesterday's brutal knife attack near the British MuseumCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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Armed officers are out in London to respond to any terror threats and make people feel saferCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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St Pancras station regularly has armed police patrolling through it, and officers were out in force today after a woman was knifed to death in central London last nightCredit: Getty Images
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Two cops kept a watchful eye from height at London’s St Pancras stationCredit: Getty Images
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Armed cops patrolled St Pancras in twos as commuters went about their daily livesCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
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A heightened police presence in London today comes after a woman in her 60s was knifed to death in Russell Square and said "he's still here, he's still here" before she diedCredit: Reuters
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Officers with assault rifles have been stationed at London Underground stations and tourism hotspots todayCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
The 19-year-old man was tasered by cops after he ran from the scene and was arrested on suspicion of murder.
The Met Police's new heavily armed force are decked out in grey Kevlar body armour, and carry weapons including sniper rifles, automatic assault rifles, submachine guns, handguns, and tasers.
They also have BMW F800GS motorbikes at their disposal to allow them to weave through traffic and attend to major incidents.
The new officers are masked to hider their identities, which helps in hostage situations, targeted attacks, and kidnap attempts.
The release of a new highly-armed unit on London's streets came against a backdrop of warnings from the Police Federation.
Speaking outside Scotland Yard in the early hours of Thursday morning, Commander Mark Rowley said last night's killing was a "tragic incident".
He said: "Police were called just after 10.30pm last night to reports of a man, armed with a knife, assaulting people in Russell Square, Camden.
"Armed officers arrived at the scene within five minutes, they discharged the Taser whilst confronting and arresting the suspect.
"Six people have been injured, including the one woman who sadly died at the scene, and the others have received various injuries."
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The Met's assistant commissioner has encouraged people to keep an "open mind" about the motive behind last night's attackCredit: London News Pictures
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Armed police have been a visible presence in London after the capital woke up to news that a woman had been killed and five people had been injured in a knife attackCredit: Getty Images
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The armed cops also have BMW motorbikes at their disposal to weave through traffic and get to major incidents
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A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder last night after being tasered by cops at Russell SquareCredit: EPA
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Last night's killing of a 60-year-old woman came hours after news an elite unit of anti-terror cops would be released onto London's streets
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Forensics specialists were in Russell Square last night after the horrific knife attack at roughly 10.30pmCredit: PA:Press Association
Mr Rowley added: "A 19-year-old man was arrested a shortly after 10.39pm and is currently in police custody at hospital.
"Early indications suggest that mental health is a significant factor in this case and that is one major line of inquiry.
"But of course at this stage we should keep an open mind regarding motive and, consequently, terrorism as a motivation remains but one line of enquiry for us to explore."
