An Orthodox Jew man has been rushed to hospital after being stabbed in Stoke Newington, Hackney, on Friday morning.

The male - who was named as Rabbi Alter Yaakov Schlesinger from Stamford Hill's ultra-orthodox  Satmar community -  suffered what appeared to be multiple stab wounds in the incident, which took place just before 11am.

Witnesses at the scene say members of the public held the suspect until he was arrested by police.

In a statement, Hackney Police confirmed: "At 10:54 on Friday, 12 June, police were called to reports of a male being restrained in Stoke Newington High Street, N16.

"Officers and London Ambulance Service attended. A man, aged in his fifties, was found suffering stab wounds.

"Another man, aged in his forties, had been restrained on the floor by members of the public.

"A man aged in his forties has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He has been taken to hospital after suffering what is believed to be minor head injuries.’’

The Community Security Trust confirmed they were "aware of reports a Jewish man has been stabbed in Stoke Newington, north London" and were in contact with police over the incident.

Hackney Police added: "The victim, aged in his fifties, has also been taken to hospital. We await further updates on his condition. We are not treating this as terror-related.’’

Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl added: “We have become aware of an alleged violent crime against a Chasidic Jew in Stoke Newington.

''Our thoughts are with the victim and we pray for his speedy recovery.

''It has been reported that a man has been arrested and we hope justice will be swiftly served.

''We are liaising with contacts in the Stamford Hill community to share our concern and solidarity. We would like to thank the members of the public who restrained the attacker, incapacitating him until police arrived.”

Photos on social media  showed how construction workers and a Deliveroo rider had rushed to stop the alleged knifeman before police flooded the scene.

Local business owner Atique Choudhury told The Sun Online that a witness had rushed into his restaurant moments after the stabbing.

He said: "My friend told me that a person with a long knife ran up the road and stabbed him a few times.

"He hit him across the head and shoulder."

Aasmah Mir, breakfast presenter on Times Radio, tweeted: "Caught up in aftermath of a stabbing on Stoke Newington High Street in London this morning.

"Men running, screaming 'Call The Police!'

"Heard a woman driver behind me telling a bus driver that the alleged attacker had got off his bus.

"Builders jumped on him. Absolutely terrifying."

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called today (12 June) at 10.56am to reports of a stabbing in Stoke Newington High Street, Stoke Newington.

"We dispatched an ambulance crew and an incident response officer. We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance."

"We assessed a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre."

An ITV reporter added: "Dozens of police cars and ambulances have just arrived on Stoke Newington high street. Air ambulance overhead.

"Whole area now cordoned off - overheard a police officer describe it as a crime scene. Another one told me that ‘somebody has been hurt’."

Hackney Council has confirmed part of Stoke Newington High Street has been closed by police as the investigations get underway.

The council tweeted: “Stoke Newington High Street is closed between Evering Road and Stoke Newington Church Street following a police incident.

"Please avoid the area if possible.”