Poplar Park Attack: Hooded Gang Assaults Man with Axe and Machete in Broad Daylight

Poplar Park Attack: Hooded Gang Assaults Man with Axe and Machete in Broad Daylight
CREDIT: UKNIP/Sirikunkrittaphuk from Getty Images

Key Points:

  • A man was attacked by a group of hooded individuals wielding an axe and a machete in Pennyfields Park, Poplar, Tower Hamlets.
  • The attack occurred in broad daylight on 26 March at approximately 17:45 GMT.
  • Footage shows the attackers dressed in tracksuits and balaclavas surrounding and assaulting the victim.
  • The victim sustained stab wounds but survived with non-life-threatening injuries.
  • London Ambulance Service attended the scene and transported the victim to a nearby hospital.
  • One attacker was seen walking away from the scene carrying an axe.
  • The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation but have not made any arrests.
  • Officers are conducting urgent inquiries and are appealing for witnesses.

A man was violently attacked by a trio of masked individuals armed with an axe and a machete in an east London park. The shocking incident took place in broad daylight on Wednesday, 26 March, at around 17:45 GMT in Pennyfields Park, Poplar, Tower Hamlets.

Video footage captured the attackers, dressed in dark tracksuits and balaclavas, as they surrounded their victim before striking him. The footage shows the man falling to the ground while the assailants continue their assault.

How did the victim respond after the attack?

Despite his injuries, the victim managed to retrieve his mobile phone in the moments following the attack. A group of passersby approached as the wounded man attempted to call for help. One of the attackers was seen leaving the scene while carrying what appeared to be an axe in his right hand.

What actions have the authorities taken?

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they responded to reports of a stabbing in the park at 17:45 GMT. Officers arrived alongside the London Ambulance Service, which provided medical assistance to the victim before transporting him to a nearby hospital. His injuries were later confirmed to be non-life-threatening.

“At this early stage, there have been no arrests,” a Met Police spokesperson stated. “Officers are currently conducting urgent enquiries. If you have any information that may assist, please call 101 stating CAD6073/26March. Investigations are ongoing.”

Has there been a rise in violent incidents in London?

This latest incident follows a series of violent attacks across London in recent months. Earlier this year, a 14-year-old boy was fatally stabbed on a London bus in Woolwich, prompting a large-scale manhunt. Other violent knife attacks have also been caught on camera, including a daylight assault in Carshalton and another instance where a victim was left bleeding on the street.

Authorities continue to urge the public to come forward with any relevant information that could aid ongoing investigations.

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