A barber in London's Covent Garden bravely intervened in a stabbing incident that left four men injured. The attack occurred in the busy tourist area on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, leading to the arrest of a 47-year-old woman.
Arrest and Injuries
The woman was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, believed to be a pair of scissors, and assault. Police described the incident as an "isolated, mental health" assault. Two of the victims remain in hospital with injuries described as "neither life-threatening nor life changing," while two others have been released.
Barber's Heroic Act
A barber operating nearby told The Sun he confronted the assailant after one of the wounded victims staggered into his shop, saying they had been stabbed. "We all came rushing out of our shops to help. I ran towards her down the street and she stopped and looked at me holding the scissors," he said.
He added: "She had a weird look in her eyes. It was like she was possessed almost. But I still ran towards her and held her back. I was holding the woman back to stop her from attacking more people."
Witness Accounts
Another witness said officers disarmed the woman while she was using a vape. Arjan Gjorga, who runs a fish and chip shop on Endell Street, confirmed the victims were "random people who were just walking by." He told the Press Association: "She just started stabbing random people. I didn't see any scissors, but I heard it was with small scissors."
Matt Bishop, 42, observed a "stand-off" between the woman and three police officers. "She didn't seem to be particularly coherent. She was pretty incoherent in what she was shouting," he said.
Police Response
A significant police cordon was set up from High Holborn to the St Mungo's homeless centre on Endell Street. An air ambulance landed in Trafalgar Square, though the London Ambulance Service said it "treated four patients at the scene and took them all to a major trauma centre as a priority by road."
Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said: "Officers responded within minutes of this incident after receiving a number of reports. While still at an early stage of the investigation, we would like to reassure the community that we currently believe this to be an isolated, mental-health related incident."
The four wounded men were aged 34, 39, 42, and 52.
