ABU DHABI // Police in the UK have confirmed that one of the victims of the hammer attack remains in a critical condition in hospital.
“The first victim remains in a critical life-threatening condition,” a spokesman for the Metropolitan police said on Monday.
“The second victim and third victim remain in hospital but neither of them is believed to have life-threatening injuries.”
The statement follows media reports that suggested the first victim was making a swift recovery.
Khuloud Al Najjar, 36, and her sisters Ohoud, 34, and Fatima, 31, were attacked in their room on the seventh floor of the Cumberland Hotel in central London between 1am and 2am on April 7 by a man wielding a hammer.
“There has been some reporting from what has taken place at the courts. Court hearing reporting has suggested that the main victim suffered life-threatening head injuries and facial injuries to the left eye and lost a significant amount of blood and has five per cent brain function,” the spokesman added. “That is the description that has come out of the court hearing and that has been attributed to the police officer who has been in attendance at the court hearing.
“We are not challenging anything that has been said.”
Three people on Saturday appeared in court in connection with the attack.
Of the other two arrested, one was bailed to appear in court on Tuesday, while another was bailed pending further inquiries.
Senior members of the UAE leadership have met the family of the three sisters.
Additionally, a team from Abu Dhabi police has been dispatched to London.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
