Have-a-go hero tells of how he managed to halt warehouse knife attacker: ‘I hit him with a fire extinguisher, which sort of calmed everything down’
‘Horror stabbing’: five people were hurt when a man using a ‘Rambo knife’ went on the attack in an Argos despatch centre
Further details have emerged following yesterday’s frenzied “horror stabbing” in business premises on the Beddington trading estate.
Described by the Met Police as a “Croydon warehouse stabbing”, the incident took place in an Argos despatch centre. One man was arrested and five people – a man in his 50s, two in their 30s and two men in their 20s – required hospital treatment.
Although the London air ambulance was called out to attend, “Their conditions were assessed as not life-threatening,” a Met spokesperson said of those injured.
The police and emergency services were called at 10.15am yesterday morning to reports of a stabbing at a warehouse in Marlowe Way, Beddington.
“A 30-year-old man was arrested nearby on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon. He was also taken to hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening,” the Met said.
The attacker’s injuries are believed to have been caused by his being hit, repeatedly, with a fire extinguisher, as one of those under assault hit back to defend their work colleagues from further injury.
Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, local policing commander for south London, said: “Officers responded quickly and arrested the suspect within an hour. An investigation is now underway.
“Based on initial enquiries we believe all those involved knew each other. Therefore we do not believe there is any wider risk to the public.”
One of those who led the fightback was 29-year-old Joseph Denton, who as he drove home after an unusual day at work was interviewed by TV news reporters.
With a bandage around his little finger, Denton was able to show his injury to the cameras, saying that the knifeman had “sliced my finger open”.
Denton said: “I was there for an audit and the company basically started shouting and saying: ‘He’s back.’
All in a day’s work: Joseph Denton interviewed after yesterday’s attacks
“He didn’t say a word. He was trying to kill me and I’d never seen him before in my life.”
Denton, from Raleigh, Essex, said that the man was armed with a large knife with serated edge, describing it as a “Rambo knife”.
He said: “He stabbed two people in the chest, one had a big gash in his arm. I think someone in the side as well.
“I tried to lock the door, but where I couldn’t I had to just confront him and fight him basically.
“I got him on the floor and decided to hit him with a fire extinguisher, which sort of calmed everything down.
“And then people rushed in because he was on the floor at that point, and then we all just carried on attacking him until he left.
“I didn’t really have a choice to be honest. There’s one door he was coming through. So, there’s nowhere to go anyway, so I had to confront him.
“He had his thing just stabbing at me like a serial killer.”
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A have-a-go hero! Is this a Croydon first?
Ahem. Two friends and I have very nice letters from a Chief Super from Z Division thanking us for intervening in a shop robbery in Purley High Street some moons ago.
Many congrats! Did you have a fire extinguisher to hand? Surely your selfless act should entitle you to an Inside Croydon award?