A Metropolitan Police spokesman said a man suffered a "stab wound" to his arm in the incident, which took place at 10am on Tuesday at the junction of Great Russell Street and Museum Street.

The victim was waiting in the queue to enter the museum when he was stabbed, according to witnesses.

He was subsequently taken to hospital.

Police have described it as an "isolated" incident and said that there is "no outstanding risk" to the public. It is not being treated as terror related.

One witness told the PA news agency the victim tried to escape and was "dripping blood everywhere".

Another witness, a local businesswoman, heard the victim "screaming" and saw a trail of blood along the street in the aftermath of the attack.

The male attacker fled the scene but was quickly captured by police nearby and was arrested. The museum has since been reopened.

Officers are expected to be in place for much of today, according to the force.

The British Museum is the UK's third most visited tourist attraction, with more than four million visitors last year.

It was Britain's most visited attraction in 2019 - pre-COVID - but was overtaken by the Natural History Museum and Brighton Pier in 2022, according to figures from VisitBritain.

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A British Museum spokesperson said they heightened security as a precaution following the incident.

"The museum was closed this morning due to an incident following a member of the public being attacked nearby," they said.

"The museum's security team supported at the scene until the emergency services arrived.

"Visitors were evacuated from the museum as a precaution, and we wish the victim a full and swift recovery."