Updated 4pm

London police have arrested a man after a horrific hammer assault which critically injured two women in Greenwich.

Joe Xuereb, 27, was arrested several hours after the unprovoked attack on the mother and daughter, aged 64 and 30.

Mr Xuereb is a British national, London police told Times of Malta. A relative confirmed his Maltese roots, saying Mr Xuereb's father was born and raised in the UK to Maltese parents. 

It is believed that Mr Xuereb did not previously know the victims and that he is battling mental health issues. 

The hammer was recovered during the arrest.

Eyewitnesses described how the suspect left the scene "calmly on a pushbike" after leaving the women horrifically injured.

The victims were "covered in blood" while the suspect walked "calmly" around, swinging his hammer and hitting a brick wall.

A woman followed him in her car and eventually led police to the scene of the arrest.