A woman was arrested following a stabbing incident in Covent Garden, central London, on Thursday lunchtime that left four men injured. The Metropolitan Police said the victims, aged 34, 39, 42, and 52, were stabbed in what authorities described as a “random” attack connected to a mental health issue.

Two of the men required hospital treatment for their injuries, while the other two have since been discharged. Officers arrested a 47-year-old woman on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, believed to be a pair of scissors, and assault.

Witnesses in the area provided varying accounts of the event. Arjan Gjorga, who runs a fish and chip shop nearby, said the victims appeared to be passerby “random people who were just walking by” at the time of the attack. Another onlooker, Matt Bishop, 42, said he observed the woman in a confrontation with police moments after the incident. Bishop described the woman as “pretty incoherent” and said she was waving a weapon while running down the street, though he did not witness the stabbing itself.

The attack reportedly took place outside the Shaftesbury Theatre, prompting police to establish a significant cordon extending from High Holborn to the St Mungo’s homeless centre on Endell Street. Officers were seen entering the nearby premises as part of their response.

Ch Supt Jason Stewart addressed concerns surrounding the incident, emphasizing that the attack appeared to be isolated and related to mental health issues. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stabbing as the community is reassured of their ongoing efforts to ensure public safety.