Tributes have been paid to a father and “loving, caring and positive” son who were named as the victims of a quadruple stabbing at a business premises in central London.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after Terry McMillan, 58, and Brendan McMillan, 27, were fatally stabbed in a “targeted” attack in Bermondsey, Southwark, on Monday afternoon.
Emergency services were called at about 1pm following reports of multiple stabbings inside a commercial property on Long Lane.
Terry — who left school with no qualifications and rose to become director of the Trademark Property Group — died at the scene in central London and three others were rushed to hospital.
Brendan, a talented prop for Blackheath Rugby Football Club who had represented Jamaica, later died in hospital from his stab wounds.
Paying tribute to Brendan McMillan, the director of Jamaica Rugby Football Union, said “his sudden loss leaves a void impossible to fill – in the scrum, in the changing room, in the hearts of all who played with him and to the whole Rugby family”.
Hughton Campbell told the Standard: “The Jamaican rugby community has been left in profound sadness and disbelief following the tragic and untimely passing of Brendan McMillan.
“Brendan was a force of nature both on and off the pitch. He was always at the centre of all things great with Jamaica Rugby and extremely popular with the players, staff, and supporters.
“Brendan was well-loved within the team and always led by example. You knew when Brendan was around: his big smile, his infectious laugh and his extreme compassion and kindness towards his teammates.
“He was at the heart of all entertainment and team bonding off the pitch. He wore the shirt with immense pride and will be sorely missed.”
It is understood that Brendan had been preparing to play in the Jamaica 7’s team but was injured while playing the Bahamas last year.
He had played for Jamaica against Mexico in Mexico City earlier this year.
Anthony Johnson, the Chairman of Jamaica Rugby Football Union, added: “It’s never easy to lose a family member, and it’s especially difficult when that family member’s life was taken senselessly.
“Our hearts and prayers are with his family as our rugby family mourns the tragic death of such an outstanding human being.
“May his soul rest in peace, and those responsible, brought to justice.”
Floral tributes for the pair, who were named locally, have been left at a gate opposite the building. One note paying their respects to Brendan, a University of Gloucestershire graduate, read: “To our friend and family, you are a special person, loyal, loving, caring and positive. You love as long as you’re remembered. You will never be forgotten on or off the pitch. 1, 2, 3, Yard!!!”
Old Colfeians Rugby Club, Brendan’s former club, shared the following tribute on Instagram: “Yesterday, Old Colfeians lost a member of our family, one of the kindest, funniest, most genuine people you could ever meet.
“Brendan lit up every room he walked into, forever smiling, always cracking a joke and always full of life. His absence will be deeply felt for a long time to come. We will miss him more than words can say and we'll always carry his memory with us. We are also mourning the loss of his beloved father, Terry, a long time supporter and sponsor of the club.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. Rest in peace, Brendan McMillan. Rest in peace, Terry McMillan.”
A British man in his 30s was detained in connection with the incident and arrested on suspicion of murder on Tuesday.
Police said the suspect, from Hackney, east London, was no longer in a life-threatening condition but remained in hospital.
Another man in his 30s remains in hospital and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
Neil Coyle, the Labour MP for Bermondsey and Southwark, told The Standard: “This is truly awful. This was a targeted, isolated incident. Sadly two men are dead. The man who committed the crimes is detained and is no further risk to this community or anyone else in London.
“People are shocked and part of my job, and the work of the council and police, is community reassurance — making sure people know the person who did this knew the people he was attacking.”
Asked about a possible motive, Mr Coyle said: “The reason the police are using the term ‘detained’ speaks for itself.”
He added: “People live right on top of this. It’s an amazing community and it will be amazing tomorrow as people recover from the trauma.”
The building is the headquarters of Trademark Group — of which Terry was the director— as well as a business consultancy firm specialising in mental health support and local residents.
The Metropolitan Police said a crime scene is in place at a nearby hotel where the arrested man went into following the attack.
Scotland Yard said they were aware of speculation the man was staying at the Marriott Bonvoy, but this was not the case.
A resident who was working from home inside his flat yesterday said he heard someone scream “Help me!”.
He saw a victim with blood on him outside his window and claimed he witnessed a “policeman chase a man with a Taser”.
“I was shocked,” the young man told the Standard.
A neighbour, who has lived in the area for five years, said an officer told him the row started at an upstairs flat before it “spilled out onto the streets”.
He said: “I think they might have lived together. It happened in one of these flats and it spilled out onto the street. I mean, to be honest, Bermondsey, in terms of south London, it’s actually quite a safe place. It’s become gentrified, you know, and with gentrification, crime tends to go down.
“However, I have to meet my girlfriend after work at winter, if she's coming off a bus. I will come and meet her and stuff. Once that starts to seep into ordinary people's minds, you know we are in a bad place. In broad daylight people are wielding machetes, grown men.
The former NHS worker is moving to Yorkshire, adding: “My girlfriend has had her phone stolen twice. And we just made the decision that now it is time to move. It’s just not safe any more.”
He said of the area: “Coming here, this is like a bit of a middle-class haven. But when you see incidents like this, we just decided enough is enough.”
A witness living in the area told Metro that while working from home with their windows open, they heard someone outside saying, “in a deep, shallow voice: ‘Help me’.”
It’s an amazing community and it will be amazing tomorrow as people recover
They explained when they were returning home from grabbing some lunch they saw paramedics attending a “clothless man on the ground, who seemed to have a wound on his right side of his body, around his chest area or slightly below”.
The witness explained he heard the man moaning and he was transferred onto a stretcher alive after around 30 minutes.
One concerned mother who lives nearby told MailOnline how she heard of the stabbing through her child's nursery, which is just minutes away from the scene of the stabbings.
She said: “It's really shocking. To have this in an area where I'm raising a child makes me worry that I shouldn't be living somewhere like this now that we have a family.”
A resident, who lives on the first floor, said there was a pool of blood which has been cleaned, but there were stains on the walls.
A concierge at a nearby office, who was working at the time of the murders, said: “I heard something had happened outside. But I did not know what was happening outside.”
Natasha Ennin, Southwark Council's cabinet member for community safety, said: “I’m horrified and deeply saddened by the deaths of two men in our borough today. My heartfelt condolences go to their families and friends.
“Police have launched a murder investigation and have said this evening they do not believe the incident to be terrorism-related, and that there is no further risk to the public. There are extra police in the Long Lane area this evening and we will remain in close contact with police as they continue their investigation.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, who leads policing for the area, said: “Our thoughts are first and foremost with the family and friends of the victims of this tragic incident. Our investigation continues at pace and we are working hard to understand the full circumstances.
“I understand there may be concern in the local community and there will be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days. I would also encourage anyone who may be worried to speak to an officer.”
She earlier said: “Our investigation is in the early stages and we are working hard to understand the full circumstances of this shocking incident. At this point, we do not believe it to be terrorism-related and there is no further risk to the public.
“There will be a heavy police presence in the area throughout today and I would encourage anyone with information to speak with officers or contact the Met by other means.”
The London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 1.04pm (Monday) to reports of a stabbing on Long Lane, SE1. We sent a number of resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, incident response officers, a command support vehicle and paramedics from our tactical response unit.
“We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London's Air Ambulance, which consisted of a paramedic and a doctor in a car.
“We treated four people at the scene. We took three patients to major trauma centres as a priority. Very sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Anyone with information can call 101, report online or contact ‘X’@METCC and quote CAD3499/28.
