Post by Focus on May 22, 2013 16:23:28 GMT
A man reported to be serving soldier is dead and two people have been shot in Woolwich, south east London, after armed police were called to a machete attack, eyewitnesses say.
Dozens of weapons - including a number of knives - and pools of blood could be seen on the ground in John Wilson Street, where a man wearing a Help for Heroes T-shirt is said to have been attacked.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed one person had died following the incident and said the Independent Police Complaints Commission had now taken over the investigation.
Photographs taken at the scene show three people lying on the ground. Their condition was not clear.
The incident happened around a mile from the Royal Artillery Barracks
Woolwich MP Nick Raynsford told Sky News he believed the deceased was a serving soldier.
He said he had spoken to both borough commander Richard Wood and Lieutenant Colonel Bob Christopher at Royal Artillery Barracks - which is around a mile from the scene of the attack.
Mr Raynsford said: "One individual is dead, two others are seriously injured and in hospital.
"The circumstances causing the incident are not yet clear. It's been suggested it was the product of a road traffic accident, but that's pure speculation.
"I'll be talking to everyone who is involved, we will be trying to do everything possible to try and ensure calm in the area. People will be very, very shocked.
"We think a serving soldier was the victim. We don't know the circumstances surrounding the incident."
An aerial shot of the scene
Schools in the area have been placed on lockdown.
Police were sent to the scene at around 2.20pm. The immediate area has been shut down, with eyewitnesses describing the incident on Twitter as "horrific".
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We believe at this stage officers were called to reports of an assault."
London Air Ambulance confirmed one patient was airlifted from the scene, while another was taken away by road ambulance.
For the love of God!! - Fx
