A woman is fighting for her life after a knife man wielding a knife ran into a London car park and indiscriminately stabbed shoppers.
Four women suffered knife wounds and one was airlifted to hospital in a life-threatening condition.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said a man in his 60s was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder.
The attack, which police said was not believed to be terror-related, took place at about 10.35am on Friday near a branch of supermarket Sainsbury’s in Hampton, west London.
A female member of staff at the nearby Hampton pub said the attacker “appeared to be out of it” and was only targeting women.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “He only went for the women. The man ran through and started attacking them.
“It didn’t seem like they knew him. It was completely unprovoked.
Air-ambulanced out
“One lady is in very bad condition. She had to be air-ambulanced out.
“He was caught very quickly just outside the car park.
“He appeared to be out of it, on drugs or crazy. He must have been very angry to go out and unprovokedly stab those women.
“The woman who was badly stabbed in the back made it up to the police station and raised the alarm.
“She is well-known locally and always goes shopping there all the time.”
The witness added: “If it had been 10 or 20 minutes earlier there would have been children there because it’s right outside a primary school.”
The Met said officers were called at about 10.35am to The Avenue in Hampton.
A spokesman said: “Officers attended and discovered three women suffering from knife wounds.
“The London Ambulance Service also attended and are providing treatment to the women.
“Their conditions are not thought to be life-threatening or changing at this time.
“A fourth woman who had also suffered knife wounds was subsequently located at a nearby property.
“She has been taken to hospital where her condition at this stage is thought to be life-threatening.”
The spokesman added: “At this early stage, the incident is not believed to be terror-related.”
Children safe
A member of staff at Tangley Park Children's Centre, which backs onto the scene of the attack, said: "We kept all the children safe and kept them in the building until we knew it was safe.
“It’s just such a shock - our parents and children could have been walking to their cars at that time.
“Our sympathies go out to everyone who was hurt and we are really glad none of our families were involved.”
A resident of Partridge Road said: “I’m appalled and absolutely horrified. It’s just so scary, this is a quiet area and it’s not at all what you think is going to happen in Hampton.
“It’s just horrible, that poor, poor woman.”
Press Association