21 year-old man arrested

SENIOR Labour MP Stephen Timms was left covered in blood after a woman stabbed him twice in the stomach during a constituency advice surgery, witnesses said tonight.

Mr Timms, 54, was said to be in ``good spirits’’ as he recovered in hospital

after the incident at the Beckton Globe library in Kingsford Way, east London.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said police were called to the scene at 3.20pm.

She said: ``A 21-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and is currently in

custody at an east London police station.’’

It is understood one of the MP’s assistants, Andrew Bazeley, disarmed the woman before a security guard restrained her.

A spokeswoman for Barts and the London NHS Trust said: ``Stephen Timms MP was taken to the Royal London this afternoon after being stabbed in the abdomen and is in a stable condition.’’

A 16-year-old student said she saw Mr Timms being carried into a room wearing a blood-stained shirt.

Speaking outside the library, the girl, who did not wish to be named, said: ``I

saw an Asian woman and a security guard was holding her. `I saw everyone screaming and there was a woman with a buggy who was really crying.

``There was a bit of blood on the floor. It was quite dramatic. I saw him being

dragged into another room. There was blood on his shirt.’’

Sir Robin Wales, the elected Mayor of Newham, said: ``My understanding is there was an appointment made for the woman. At the beginning of the interview she stabbed him.

``The security guard came in and disarmed her and held her until the police

arrived.’’

Sir Robin, who has known Mr Timms for more than 20 years, said he spoke to the MP tonight.

He said he understood Mr Timms was stabbed twice with a knife and was due to undergo exploratory surgery.

Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman and Prime Minister David Cameron were among those sending their best wishes to Mr Timms and his wife, Hui-Leng Lim.

Mr Timms has been MP for the constituency - and previously for Newham North East - since 1994.

The former financial secretary to the Treasury has regularly spoken out against

knife crime in his constituency, particularly among young people.