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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Anthony France

Hunt for ‘machete’ gang after brutal stabbing of young man in Woolwich caught on video

A young man was stabbed with a terrifying machete-style weapon during a daylight brawl outside an estate agent in south east London.

Passers-by watched as the victim, in his 20s, attempted to fight back against a group of at least four men on Plumstead Road, Woolwich.

Footage posted on social media shows one attacker, who appears to be holding a long blade, trying to grab his bag just after 4pm on Monday.

The fight - involving hooded suspects in dark clothing and a victim in a light blue T-shirt - was videoed by horrified passengers on a bus.

Staff at Benham & Reeves estate agents were trapped inside their offices.

One employee told MailOnline: “I was so scared. I was shaking.

“I have never witnessed anything like that before. The size of the knife – I have never seen one like it.

“I called the police – everybody was calling them.

“There were a group of lads robbing another – probably about four or five.

“One had a huge machete and they were scuppering outside our office.

“I am not sure if they managed to get the bag in the end. They then ran over to the estate and it looked like they might have hurt his leg.”

The victim looked like he was struck in the leg by the machete and fell to the floor.

Then, a second attacker stomped on him as he lay in the foetal position on the pavement.

Officers searched the area for those involved but there was no trace of any suspects, the Metropolitan Police said.

A spokesman added: “Police were called at 4.07pm on Monday, May 13 to reports of a group of males fighting - some allegedly seen to be armed with knives - on Plumstead Road, Woolwich.

“Officers, London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended the scene and found a man in his 20s with a stab wound injury.

“He was taken to a hospital and his injuries were deemed not life-threatening or life changing.

“Officer scoured the area for those involved but there was no trace of any suspects.

“Officers are aware of the video in circulation and further enquiries are ongoing.”

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