Daytime attack in one of the busiest tourist areas – What do official figures show about the risk and knife crime in the British capital?
An alarm was raised in central London after four men were injured in an attack with a sharp object in the area of Covent Garden, one of the most well-known and busiest tourist destinations in the British capital.
The Metropolitan Police were called to Endell Street, near the Shaftesbury Theatre, shortly before 12.30pm on Wednesday 5 August, following reports of a series of attacks. The four injured men, aged 34, 39, 42 and 52, were taken to a major trauma centre. Two have been discharged, while the other two remain in hospital with injuries which, according to the authorities, are not considered life-threatening or likely to cause permanent disability.
Police arrested a 47-year-old woman at the scene. She was later identified as Star Gollovena and was charged with four counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He was remanded in custody to appear in court.
Authorities said a pair of scissors were seized from the scene and are being investigated as the possible weapon used in the attack. The Metropolitan Police have so far described the incident as isolated and is seriously considering the possibility that it is linked to mental health issues. There is no indication that it is being treated as a terrorist attack.
Witnesses described scenes of panic. One of them said he saw a woman attacking passersby near the theater, while an injured man fled to a barbershop on Endell Street for help. According to witnesses, police arrived very quickly and proceeded to arrest the suspect.
Why is the incident causing such concern?
Covent Garden is not an isolated area.
It is one of the most touristy areas in London, with theaters, restaurants, shops, hotels and thousands of pedestrians daily.
When an attack with a sharp object occurs in broad daylight in such a place, the feeling of insecurity is inevitable.
The incident also brings to the fore the chronic problem of the use of knives and other sharp objects in criminal acts in the British capital.
However, official data presents a more complex picture.
What do the numbers show for the knife? crime in London
According to the latest official report from the Metropolitan Police, recorded crimes in which a knife or other sharp object was used or threatened decreased by 14,9% in the financial year 2025/26 compared to the previous year.
Knife robberies decreased by 21%, while cases where a knife was used to cause actual injury decreased by 8,4%.
National figures from the Office for National Statistics also show a decline. In England and Wales, 48.774 crimes involving a knife or sharp object in the year ending March 2026, down 8% on the previous year. The Metropolitan Police recorded 13.806 of these, around 28% of the total, also down around 15%.
This means that the problem remains serious, but is not currently on an upward trend according to official data.
One in four is actually injured
One more element is of particular importance.
In most knife-enabled crime incidents, the weapon is used as a threat and not to cause injury.
According to the Metropolitan Police, approximately 24% of recorded incidents involves actual injury to the victim.
However, the absolute number remains high and the victims are often young men. In the 2025/26 financial year, 47% of knife crime victims in London were aged 25 or under.
Police intensify operations
The Metropolitan Police has increased targeted operations against knife crime.
In June 2026, he announced that, as part of a two-week operation, he had arrested 243 people and were confiscated 159 knives.
The operation relied on data and intelligence analysis to identify individuals considered at high risk for serious violence.
The fact that the numbers are decreasing does not mean that the police consider the problem solved.
On the contrary, knife violence continues to be one of the key operational priority areas in London.
Is London dangerous?
There is no simple answer.
London remains one of the world's largest metropolises, with millions of residents and visitors every day. Serious incidents of violence are a legitimate concern, especially when they occur in high-traffic areas.
At the same time, however, an incident like that in Covent Garden should not be used to portray the entire city as uncontrollably dangerous.
The numbers themselves show that knife crimes have decreased in the last year.
The real picture is more complex:
The risk is there, attacks can be unpredictable, and authorities still face a serious problem with gun violence — but the overall numbers are trending downward.
And perhaps this is the most important dimension of the incident in Covent Garden.
A few minutes of attack is enough to turn one of London's liveliest streets into a cordoned off area with ambulances and police.
For residents and visitors, this is a reminder that even in the most touristy areas, vigilance is required.
For the authorities, however, the biggest challenge is another:
to continue reducing violence without allowing isolated but serious attacks to develop into a broader trend again.
Πηγές
Metropolitan Police – official statement on the Covent Garden case.
Reuters – four injured in Covent Garden and investigation into possible mental health-related incident.
Metropolitan Police – Knife-enabled Crime Data Bulletin, March 2026.
Office for National Statistics – Crime in England and Wales, year ending March 2026.
