Knifeman Attacks Three People at London Bus Stop

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 22, 2002

Knifeman Attacks Three People at London Bus Stop

Three people, one of them a ten-year-old boy, were seriously injured when a man with a 12in kitchen knife lashed out at shoppers in Brixton, South London, Sunday.

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Three people, one of them a ten-year-old boy, were seriously injured when a man with a 12in kitchen knife lashed out at shoppers in Brixton, South London, Sunday.

After police were alerted that the man had been seen carrying a knife in Electric Avenue, they approached him and challenged him to give up the weapon. But he threatened them with it twice and ran off.

As officers chased him, he stopped outside Woolworths and attacked three people in a queue at a bus stop. The boy and a woman were stabbed in the back, police said, and a man received injuries to his chest and stomach.

Sunday night the boy, the 86-year-old woman and the man, 31, were all said to be in a serious condition at King's College Hospital in South London.

Onlookers said that the attacker had a "vacant expression" as he lunged at his victims. They said that he used a kitchen knife and another blade.

Inspector Roy Williams, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "There was one knife, possibly two, involved in this attack." He said that the attacker had "gone berserk" outside Woolworths. When police eventually disarmed the man he produced a second knife, which they also removed before arresting him. Lesley Phillips said that she saw the man produce the kitchen knife and lunge at a passer-by.

She said: "I was out doing my shopping walking along Brixton Road when I saw a guy pull a large kitchen knife out of his jacket pocket and try to stab the guy in front of him. The knife was at least 12in long. It had a wooden handle and a serrated blade." Superintendent Jerry Savill, in charge of operations at Brixton, said: "It's an absolute mystery and appalling anyone would resort to such savage violence and attack innocent people going about their business on a Sunday afternoon."

A 44-year-old man, who is from London, was arrested and taken to hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. He was being questioned last night.

Police are anxious to contact a woman who may have taken photographs of the attacks.

Source: Agencies

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