@firefly,
Quote:Nothing like welcoming in the New Year with another mass shooting.
A good example of how carrying a gun escalates arguments into deadly confrontations. And, an armed security guard was at the scene--and he was wounded.
It would have been far better if the man had pull out a knife would it not had been Firefly?
As this case in gun 'free' England.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-129274/Three-hospital-street-stabbing.html
Three people, including a 10-year-old boy and a woman aged 86, were in a stable condition in hospital today after being stabbed in an apparently unprovoked attack at a bus stop.
Both the youngster and the pensioner were stabbed in the back and a 31-year-old man was knifed in the stomach in front of horrified passers-by in Brixton, south London, shortly after 1pm yesterday.
A man thought to be iun his 40s was in custody, police said.
Scotland Yard said the motive for "such savage violence" on the three apparently innocent bystanders, queuing for a bus outside the Woolworths store on Brixton Road, was "an absolute mystery".
Supt Jerry Savill, in charge of operations at Brixton, said: "It's an absolute mystery and appalling anyone would resort to such savage violence and attack innocent people going about their business on a Sunday afternoon. It's difficult to comprehend what could motivate anyone to do this."
The injured three - who were not believed to be related - were taken to King's College Hospital for treatment.
Police said a man, who had earlier been chased by officers from nearby Electric Avenue after receiving reports that he was carrying a knife, was arrested at the scene.
The man, believed to be aged 44, was taken by police to St Thomas' Hospital where he received treatment for minor injuries suffered during his arrest, then to Brixton police station for questioning.
He remains in custody.
Mr Savill said that on being challenged, the man threatened officers with a knife before running along Brixton Road.
"It would then appear without provocation he stabbed three people in the queue," he said.
"During this incident it appears the suspect lost possession of his knife but threatened officers with another knife.
"Officers finally managed to arrest him close to Woolworths shop using protective equipment, batons and CS spray."
Eyewitnesses said the area was crowded with hundreds of people at the time.
Jose Aukmin, who lives above Woolworths, said he first became aware of what happened as he looked out of the window and saw three people lying on the ground.
The 41-year-old, from Brazil, added: "I was talking to people and apparently, the suspect had been running from the direction of the Tube station towards Coldharbour Lane.
"They said he had a large kitchen knife but the police were already following him.
"When he got in front of the bus stop, he realised the police were going to get him then he started to stab people for some reason."
About five officers were on the scene quickly and more arrived in a police van.
Paramedics arrived soon afterwards and took over from police giving emergency first aid.
The scene was cordoned off while forensic experts searched the area.
Officers urged a middle-aged white woman who was believed to be taking photographs at the scene to come forward.
The woman, said to be aged 45-50, is described as having a pale complexion, short, sandy blonde hair with spectacles.
She was said to be of large build, wearing a T-shirt, possibly with a heart motif on the front, and a skirt.
A police spokesman said: "It is believed she was talking photographs of the incident and if so these may be vital evidence. We strongly urge this woman to make herself known to police."
Brixton lies in the heart of the borough of Lambeth where a controversial "softly softly" approach to cannabis is being piloted. Under the scheme, anyone found with cannabis on the streets for personal use was given either a formal or informal warning.
Asked whether the arrested man was on drugs or whether drugs was a possible motive, Mr Savill said: "There's nothing to suggest that. It's just one of several lines of inquiry."
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