A man has been charged with wielding a knife in a hospital A&E ward.

Ebeneezer Aina, 24, of Spur Close, Abbots Langley, has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon – he will appear at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, (March 19).

Hertfordshire Constabulary were called to reports of a man brandishing a ‘large hunting knife’ in the A&E reception area of Watford Hospital just before 11.30pm on Friday (February 15).

The A&E department had to be evacuated and pictures taken at the scene show staff and patients gathered outside the acute admissions unit – some patients in wheelchairs and beds.

Police said no one was injured.

Watford Observer:

Twitter user Josh Ellis shared a conversation between him and his girlfriend who was on the ward at the time.

In it, she messages him, saying: “All I heard was GO GO GO and legged it.”

A 24-year-old man from Watford was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and causing a delay to emergency services.

West Herts Hospitals Trust chief operating officer, Sally Tucker, said the situation was “quickly diffused” thanks to the actions of an off-duty security officer.

Detective Inspector Jason Finnegan said: “This incident was obviously upsetting and distressing for the staff and patients within A&E at the time of the incident. Thankfully no-one was hurt, and officers were able to swiftly attend and quickly arrest the man.”