Man arrested after staff member stabbed at Royal Sussex County Hospital

19 July 2020, 11:06

A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a hospital worker was stabbed in Brighton.

The Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton was put in lockdown following the incident on Sunday morning with searches of the premises concluded in the early afternoon.

Police rushed to the hospital around 8.40am on Sunday after the attack and placed the site in lockdown.

The injuries sustained by the victim, aged 56, are not now thought to be "life-threatening."

A 30-year-old man was arrested nearby an hour later on suspicion of attempted murder.

The incident is not being treated as terrorism-related.

One witness claimed the member of staff who had been attacked was a cleaner at the hospital, and said the site is still locked down.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "At 8.42am on Sunday, police were called to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton after a report that a member of staff had sustained a stab wound.

"The hospital site was quickly secured while officers have been working with security staff to confirm that nobody else has been injured, and that staff and patients are safe.

"Following immediate police searches and inquiries, a 30-year-old man was arrested in nearby Wilson Avenue at 9.40am on suspicion of attempted murder, and is currently in custody for interview and further inquiries.

"This apparently isolated and unexplained incident is not being treated as terrorism at this time and there is currently nothing to suggest that any other person has been involved or that anyone else is at risk."

He added: "The injuries to the victim, who is 56, are not assessed as life-threatening. His family have been informed.

"The precautionary search of the hospital is now concluding and we thank all staff and patients for their patience and co-operation."

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust posted on Twitter: "An incident took place at the Royal Sussex County Hospital this morning in which one member of staff was injured. The staff member is in a safe and stable state, and is being cared for in the hospital.

"The police and hospital security staff have secured the site and currently, the public are not being allowed into the hospital whilst a search of the premises is carried out.

"The police have arrested one person in relation to the incident. Further updates will follow."