The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the man and a woman have been released from hospital after the incident in Russell Square, where a 19-year-old Norwegian man of Somali origin began attacking people with a knife.

The victim who died was identified as Darlene Horton, a woman in her 60s who was the wife of a US psychology professor.

Police have been investigating whether the incident was terrorism-related, but said evidence pointed to mental health issues sparking a “spontaneous” knife attack on strangers selected at random.

-PA