Four hurt and seven arrested in Bromley stabbing

7 minutes ago

Amy Clarke

News image — KFC confirmed that a "serious incident" took place at the restaurant

PA Media Police stand nearby to the KFC — KFC confirmed that a "serious incident" took place at the restaurant

Seven people have been arrested after four men were stabbed in south-east London, the Metropolitan Police has said.

One of the men remains in a critical condition in hospital, while the other three are being treated for injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Paramedics and the London Air Ambulance were called at about 14:20 BST to Bromley High Street,where one eyewitness reported seeing a man wielding a machete.

A KFC spokesperson confirmed a "serious incident" had taken place at its Bromley High Street restaurant and an altercation had begun there. The company said it was assisting police and "supporting our team members and customers at this difficult time".

Shot from a helicopter of scene on Bromley High Street with London Fire Brigade at the scene and police cordon in place — Paramedics were sent to Bromley High Street on Thursday afternoon

An eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said: "I saw a fight breaking out at the door of KFC; people involved were partly inside and outside.

"A male in a grey tracksuit pulled out a machete and ran further into KFC holding it up in the air, at which point most people around KFC started running away, including my friend and I.

"I didn't turn around until we got to the shopping centre where I saw him running away with someone down a road."

@Vinnie_Vdk Shot of the high street through a window with London Fire Brigade in attendance and a police cordon in place. — Police said there was no wider threat to the public

Georgiana, the manager of Merkur Slots gambling shop, said she saw "a fight spill out" on to the High Street.

She said she became "very worried", and locked three customers inside the premises to wait for the situation to calm down.

She said the customers remained inside and that the shop was still closed.

Watch: BBC reports from scene of south-east London stabbing

Vinnie Guadagnino, who lives on Bromley High Street, said he saw a large emergency response with multiple police cars and about 10 officers on foot.

"Police cars kept coming, then within the next half hour there were multiple fire engines and people gathering.

"Then there was a drone overhead and helicopters and an air ambulance - so a massive emergency service response."

Satellite map of central Bromley, south-east London, showing the marked location of an incident in the town centre. Nearby landmarks labelled include The Glades shopping centre to the north-east and Bromley South railway station to the south. An inset map of London highlights Bromley's location within the capital.

Police cordons block part of Bromley High Street as officers stand outside businesses near a KFC. A marked police car and police van are parked within the cordoned area, with the street largely empty behind the tape. — A cordon remains in place at the scene

Bromley High Street is currently closed both ways from Ringers Road to Ethelbert Road.

Police remain at the scene and say there is not believed to be any wider threat to the public.

PA Forensics investigations in blue suits walk through the crime, with the yellow cordon behind them. — Forensic investigators at the scene on Bromley High Street

Peter Fortune, Conservative MP for Bromley and Biggin Hill, said on X that residents "would have safety concerns" and he would remain in contact with the police as they investigate.

Liberal Democrat councillor Graeme Casey said: "We're very grateful because, of course, one of the big problems we have in London is our police are quite thinly stretched, so to have had such a robust response in such a short space of time is really to the credit of all the blue-light services involved."

Two youths stand on Bromley High Street near a bus stop and shopfronts as they speak to reporters. Store signage, including FrasersPlus and Blacks, is visible in the background. — Witnesses Matias Alil and Fergal Hickey saw the commotion

Matias Alil described the reaction on the street. He said: "It was terrible. We saw a massive commotion and something going on in KFC. It was really scary, to be honest."

Fergal Hickey added: "You can see the police out there have the situation under control, so you don't really need to be too anxious about it but it's still pretty crazy to see it when it happens."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk