Donald Trump has said that a London hospital is as “bad as a military war zone” because of knife violence during a speech at the annual National Rifle Association convention praising gun rights.

The comment came during a wide ranging speech in which Mr Trump promoted the work he is doing as president and sought to promote American gun ownership by comparing the US to European countries.

“I recently read a story that in London — which has unbelievably tough gun laws — a once very prestigious hospital, right in the middle, is like a war zone for horrible stabbing wounds,” Mr Trump said.

“Yes, that’s right. They don’t have guns,” he continued. “They have knives. And, instead, there’s blood all over the floors of this hospital. They say it’s as bada as a military war zone hospital. knives, knives knives. London hasn’t been used to that. They’re getting used to it. It’s pretty tough.”

London has seen a particularly violent start to the year — it has clocked more murders than New York City in recent months. That violence has been driven by a surge in knife crimes, with an overwhelming percentage of the murders coming from knife violence. In response, Britain’s interior ministry has indicated it is consulting on new laws that could further restrict dangerous weapons. That could include banning online stores from delivering knives to residential addresses, or making it an offence to have certain types of knives and weapons in public.

“This government is taking action to restrict access to offensive weapons as well as working to break the deadly cycle of violence and protect our children, families and communities,” a Home Office spokesperson said in April.

March for Our Lives – in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 March for Our Lives – in pictures March for Our Lives – in pictures Demonstrators chant during the protest for gun legislation and school safety AP March for Our Lives – in pictures Trevon ‘Tre’ Bosley, 19, of Chicago, the brother of Terrell Bosley who was killed in 2006 in a case of mistaken identity, speaks during the rally AP March for Our Lives – in pictures Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Delaney Tarr speaks at the rally AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Protestors line the streets in Washington Getty Images March for Our Lives – in pictures People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Protestors carrying placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Protestors hold up placards in Washington AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Schoolchildren wear targets ahead of the rally Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Attendees congregate in preparation for the march Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Students brought a host of innovative placards AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures The movement’s main demand is the banning of assault rifles Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures Since the Florida shooting, students have called for urgent gun reform AFP/Getty March for Our Lives – in pictures In the wake of the Florida attack, President Donald Trump called for teachers to be armed AFP/Getty

An email to the White House seeking clarification on which hospital Mr Trump was referring to, what article he read, or why he chose to compare gun and knife violence was not immediately returned.

The United Kingdom has some of the most restrictive firearms laws in the world, and requires citizens to undergo a grueling application process in order to lawfully own a gun.

Those laws were put together piecemeal following the end of the Second World War, but were largely spurred by two national tragedies in 1987 when 16 people were killed in Hungerford, and then in 1996 in Dunblane when a shooter killed 16 schoolchildren.

The tight gun control in the UK has led to a drop in firearm violence, and gun violence deaths in England and Wales rests at about one person per every one million, according to the Geneva Declaration of Armed Violence and Development. That’s compared to the US, which sees 160 times as many gun homicides, and has a population roughly six times larger.