London: UK counter-terrorism officers on Sunday declared a stabbing rampage by a Libyan-origin man in a park in the English town of Reading that left three people dead as a terrorist attack.
The local Thames Valley Police had initially launched a murder inquiry and said it was keeping an open mind on the motive behind the knife rampage in a busy park in the city centre on Saturday evening.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon, Senior National Coordinator for the Counter Terrorism Policing network, has this morning declared the incident a terrorist incident, and CTPSE [Counter Terrorism Policing South East] will be taking over the investigation, a Thames Valley Police statement said.
A 25-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday night, remains in police custody at this time, the statement added. The knife attack took place in Forbury Gardens in the centre of the city in Berkshire.
The arrested man is believed to be a Libyan-origin resident in Britain.
This was a truly tragic incident and the thoughts of Thames Valley Police are with all those who have been affected, said Chief Constable John Campbell of Thames Valley Police.
Incidents of this nature are very rare, though I know that will be of little comfort to those involved and understand the concern that this incident will have caused amongst our local community. We will be working closely with our partners over the coming days and weeks to support the Reading community during this time, as well as with CTPSE as they progress their investigation, he said. (PTI)
