Multiple people have been stabbed at the site
of a recurring Black Lives Matter demonstration in Reading, Berkshire, England.
Thames Valley Police are investigating the
incident and have not yet confirmed on any deaths at the scene, however, two
people have been transported to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, according to the
BBC. Police confirmed that the suspect was arrested at the scene of the crime,
and is now in custody. Police have not yet released any information about the
suspect's identity.
The stabbing occurred at approximately 7 p.m.
local time in Forbury Gardens, a public park where a Black Lives Matter
demonstration had taken place earlier in the day. Organizers of the event told
the BBC the stabbing was not connected to the protest, which reportedly ended
hours before the event.
Videos of the attack have reportedly been
circulating on social media, and police urge the public not to share them.
"Please avoid speculation or sharing of
video or images of the serious incident in Reading. An investigation will be
ongoing. Follow @ThamesVP for updates," the National Police Chiefs'
Council tweeted.
Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner reiterated
pleas to not share video of the incident, writing on Twitter, "There
appears to be a serious incident tonight in Reading with reports of multiple
stabbings. Can people please stop sharing videos in the media of the alleged
incident, it is incredibly upsetting for both the victims and their families.
Let our emergency services respond now."
Newsweek reached out to the Thames Valley
Police for further information. This story will be updated with any response.
Forbury Gardens has been the site of Black
Lives Matter demonstrations for the past three weeks. Hundreds of people
attended the demonstrations held in solidarity with other similar
demonstrations around the world. Past protests at Forbury Gardens have been
peaceful, with chanting and placards reading "Black Lives Matter" and
"To Be Black is Not A Crime," according to Berkshire Live.
The protests are in response to the deaths of
several Black people by police, most notably, George Floyd who died after
former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin was seen kneeling on Floyd's
neck for nearly nine minutes, as well as Breonna Taylor, an EMT killed when
Louisville, Kentucky Metro Police officers arrived at her apartment to serve a
no-knock warrant. Taylor's boyfriend believed the officers were people
attempting to break into the apartment and fired a gun at them. Officers
returned fire, and Taylor was struck and killed in the gunfight.
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