Four Held After Hammer Attack at Cumberland Hotel

Four suspects have been arrested after three tourists were attacked with a hammer at a central London hotel.

The sisters, visiting from the United Arab Emirates, were attacked in their room at the four-star Cumberland Hotel just off Oxford Street on 6 April.

Police believe the women were attacked during an attempted robbery at their room on the seventh floor of the hotel. One of the suspects was disturbed when some of the occupants of the room woke up, and the three women were subsequently assaulted with a hammer which was later recovered at the scene.

Three children were also in the room at the time of the attack, but were unharmed.

The attack left one of the women, Khalood Al Muhairi, 36, in a critical condition. She has since been placed in an induced coma.

The other two women, Fatimah Al Muhairi, 31, and 34-year-old Ohoud Al Muhairi, remain in hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police have now arrested three men, aged 56, 34 and 32, on suspicion of attempted murder. A 31-year-old woman has also been arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

All four suspects are being questioned at a north London police station.

Police say the women left the door to their room unlocked because they were staying at the hotel with a large family group.

A spokesman for Guoman Hotels, who run the Cumberland, said: "We are very concerned about the people who were injured and are doing everything we can to help the police with their enquiries."