In a stunning act of bravery by the British public, bystanders subdued a knife-wielding man amid a rampage in Walworth, south London, that tragically resulted in one death and left two others injured. The Metropolitan Police attended East Street Market in the wake of the knife attack, where they discovered three victims, pronouncing one dead at the scene.
Two individuals, a male and a female victim, were rushed to hospital for urgent care. But despite these tragic events, the attacker, believed to be a man in his 60s, was detained thanks to courageous market traders and people passing by. London shopkeeper Wasim Hussain has said: “They just put him down, and they waited for the police. It was the general public – they work in the market, most of them.”
A police cordon remains around East Street, impacting several market businesses as authorities pursue identification of the deceased and notification of his kin. Commander Peter Stevens reflected on the day’s harrowing events, saying: “Tragically, a man lost his life this morning, and officers are working hard to establish exactly what happened and to provide support to his family.
“My thoughts and sincere sympathies are with them, and with the other people injured. Our investigation is at a very early stage.”
He continued: “One man was rapidly arrested by officers responding to the incident. At present, although enquiries are ongoing, nobody else is sought. The incident is not being treated as terrorism. Enquiries continue, led by dedicated detectives from Specialist Crime. I want to thank those people who have already shared their accounts of what they saw with police.”
Local residents have expressed their fear for their children’s safety following the incident, reports the Mirror. Siraj, 46, a local resident who did not wish to disclose her surname, was walking through East Street Market in Walworth at the time of the incident.
She followed the emergency vehicles to the scene and witnessed two injured individuals on the ground. “It was terrifying,” she said, adding that she felt fortunate that the victims were not her own children.
Siraj stated that the area has “always been safe” but the stabbing has left her feeling anxious about her family’s safety. She added: “I feel unsafe to send my kids to school now.”
Commander Stevens has made an urgent appeal for witnesses or anyone with video evidence to step forward following the shocking incident. Israel Tortora, who spoke to MyLondon, recounted their disbelief upon encountering the police cordon, saying: “It’s a very busy market, especially on weekends. I know stabbings happen every day in London but experiencing it close to home is frightening.”
Confirming the emergency response, a spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service stated that three individuals received treatment at the scene, with two subsequently transported to a major trauma centre in London.
Meanwhile, Councillor Natasha Ennin, Labour representative for Newington and Cabinet Member for Community Safety, acknowledged the situation, urging the public to refrain from speculation. Her statement read: “We are aware of the incident at East Street market and are supporting the police in their enquiries, staff and local residents.
“I would strongly urge people not to speculate about what happened and to avoid the area until the police have finished their work on site.”
