3 feared dead in knife attack after BLM rally

THREE people were feared to have been killed and two seriously wounded last night after a series of stabbings in a town centre park where a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest had been staged hours earlier.

Early reports said police are treating the incident at around 7pm in Forbury Gardens in Reading as a random attack. A man was arrested at the scene.

Witnesses said the victims were part of ‘a large group just drinking beers’ when a lone attacker struck indiscriminately. Others stressed it had ‘nothing to do with BLM’.

Distressing footage on social media showed four motionless victims being treated by police as witnesses were heard screaming nearby. Two air ambulances landed close to the scene .

Nieema Hassan, organiser of the BLM movement in Reading, said: ‘I have goosebumps knowing that this has happened only a few hours after we all peacefully came together today to talk about change and equality and it’s pretty heartbreaking that this day has been tarnished with violence.’

Security sources said they were ‘unaware of it being a terror incident’.

Ian Barber, Thames Valley Deputy Crime Commissioner, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘There has been a major incident, and brave police officers quickly responded to the incident and have brought it under control. The loss of life is tragic.’

The protest began at 1pm at Forbury Gardens, opening with a march before speeches an hour later. It ended around three or four hours before the attack.

Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted: ‘Deeply concerned to hear reports of an incident in Reading. My thoughts are with everyone involved, including police and emergency responders at the scene.’

Thames Valley Air Ambulance said last night: ‘We’ve got a number of patients that are being cared for and treated at the moment, but that is about as much information as I have at the moment.’

Ms Hassan added: ‘We worked with the police liaisons the entire time and they actually commented on how peaceful and well done and well thought out the protests was today and how smoothly it all went so I’m literally praying for the people that have been affected.’

Forbury Gardens is a Victorian town garden described as ‘a peaceful and tranquil retreat’.