The Little Diamonds nursery in Hermon Hill, Wanstead

A nursery worker has been slashed during an attack by three women who shouted “Allah”, her colleague has said.

The woman was set upon as she travelled to work at a nursery in Wanstead, north east London.

The colleague, who did not want to be named, said the victim had “three Asian girls behind her chanting the Koran, ‘Allah'”.

She added: “They pulled her to the ground, punched her, kicked her. One of them pulled out a knife and cut her arm from her wrist to her elbow.

“The police turned up, the ambulance cleaned her wounds up.”

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Karrien Stevens, who runs the Little Diamonds nursery, said the attackers slashed her arm before running off down the street.

Police are not treating it as a terror incident.

A parent of a child at the nearby Wanstead Church School said pupils were taken inside where they were kept secure.

The school sent a text to parents that read: ‘Due to a reported incident on Wanstead High St, we are keeping children in the building. They are safe and secure. 3.15pm pick up as usual unless we advise further.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said they were called at 9:36am on Wednesday to reports of an assault in Hermon Hill.

He said: “Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found a woman, aged in her 30s, with a slash wound. Her injuries are not life-threatening.

“She has been taken to an east London hospital as a precaution.

“The suspects fled the scene prior to police arrival in an unknown direction.

“No arrests have been made. Enquiries continue.”