A stabbing attack in the Swiss city of Zurich has left three people injured, with British counter-terror officials now on high alert. The assault, which took place in the bustling Bahnhofstrasse district, has sent shockwaves through the security establishment. Sources confirm that the attacker, a 24-year-old Swiss national of Sri Lankan origin, was shot and killed by police at the scene. His motive remains unclear, but authorities are investigating potential links to extremist ideology.
The injured victims, two men and one woman, are being treated in hospital. One is in critical condition. Witnesses described scenes of panic as the assailant lunged at shoppers and bystanders with a kitchen knife. Police have cordoned off the area and are reviewing CCTV footage.
In London, Whitehall sources say that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre has raised the threat level for attacks inspired by the Swiss incident. The UK's counter-terror network, already stretched by recent pro-Palestinian protests and the ongoing war in Gaza, is now on a heightened footing. Intelligence agencies are poring over communications and travel records of known suspects.
This is not the first time a stabbing in continental Europe has triggered alarm in Britain. The memory of the 2019 London Bridge attack, where a convicted terrorist used a knife to kill two people, remains fresh. Officials fear a copycat attack, especially as the festive season approaches and crowds gather in city centres.
The attack in Zurich also raises questions about the flow of information between European security services. The Swiss Federal Office of Police has declined to comment on whether the attacker was on any watchlist. But a leaked internal memo, seen by this correspondent, suggests that Swiss authorities had flagged the suspect for radicalisation earlier this year. It is not yet clear why he was not under surveillance.
The UK's National Security Advisor has convened an emergency meeting of the Cobra committee for later today. Downing Street is expected to issue a statement urging vigilance but avoiding panic. The Home Office has advised police forces to step up patrols at transport hubs and shopping centres.
Meanwhile, the families of the injured demand answers. One victim's brother told reporters: "My sister was just buying a Christmas present. Now she's fighting for her life. We need to know how this could happen."
The Swiss embassy in London has offered condolences and promised full cooperation. But behind the diplomatic language, there is a growing unease. The attack, while not on British soil, has exposed the porosity of European security. It highlights the challenge of detecting lone actors who may be self-radicalised online.
For now, the UK remains at 'substantial' threat level, meaning an attack is likely. But sources within the counter-terror community say that number could climb. The Swiss stabbing is a grim reminder that the knife, crude and silent, remains the weapon of choice for those who seek to spread terror without the sophistication of bombs or guns.
As the sun sets over London, the city's streets are quieter than usual. But the work of intelligence officers never stops. They are chasing leads, following the money, and tracking the online chatter that might give away the next plot. And they know, better than most, that the next attack could come from anywhere, at any time.
