Man Tasered and arrested after double stabbing in Barnet

Counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation into a double stabbing in Barnet, north London, after a man was Tasered and arrested at the scene having allegedly attempted to attack police officers.
Two men, one in his seventies and one in his thirties, were knifed in Highfield Avenue on Wednesday morning. Officers responded shortly after 11.16am, with local police, armed officers and the London Ambulance Service all attending the scene.
Both victims were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital, where they were said to be in a stable condition.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the suspect also tried to stab officers as they moved in to detain him. He was Tasered and arrested without any officers being injured. A 45-year-old man was subsequently held on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody, with detectives working to establish his nationality and background.
The investigation is being led by specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing, who are working alongside the Metropolitan Police to determine the full circumstances of the attack and whether there are any links to terrorism.
The Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Laurence Taylor, said the inquiry was at a preliminary stage. “Whilst I must stress this investigation is at an early stage, we are working quickly to understand exactly what happened,” he said. “Thank you to those who were in the area at the time and supported the response to this terrible incident.”
The incident comes amid heightened anxiety in north London, where a number of attacks have prompted concern in recent weeks. Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in the area, paid tribute to the officers who responded.
“Our thoughts are with the victims of this horrific attack,” he said. “We are grateful to officers who swiftly Tasered and arrested the suspect before he could cause further harm. We are aware of the significant distress and concern this incident is likely to cause in the face of a number of incidents in the local area. A suspect is in custody, and investigators are considering all possible motives.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Williams added that a police presence would remain at the scene for some time, with officers carrying out further enquiries, speaking to residents and offering reassurance to the local community.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​