Boy, 14, is charged after KFC 'machete fight' in Bromley left four with stab wounds
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By CAITLIN LENG
Published: | Updated:
A 14-year-old boy has been charged after a 'machete fight' in a Bromley KFC that left four with stab wounds.
A man, 21, and three boys aged between 14 and 17 were rushed to hospital with stab wounds after the attack broke out on Thursday on Bromley High Street at around 2.15pm.
A witness described there being 'a lot of blood' after the victims were assaulted with a large knife inside the fast-food restaurant, while another claimed they saw the assailants 'use a machete'.
The man was previously in a critical condition, but his injuries are now believed to be non-life-threatening. The teenagers have since been discharged from hospital.
Eight people were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the incident. Six of those have since been released on conditional bail while police investigations continue.
Now, the Met Police have confirmed a 14-year-old boy has also been charged with one count of affray and two counts of threatening a person with a bladed article or offensive weapon in a public place.
On Saturday, he appeared at Bromley Magistrates' Court and will appear again at the same court on Wednesday.
Police said there is currently no wider threat to the public and are treating the attack as an isolated event.
A 14-year-old boy has been charged after a 'machete fight' in a Bromley KFC that left four with stab wounds (Pictured: Police at the scene in Bromley)
Eight other people were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the incident. (Pictured: Forensic investigators at the scene)
The teenager has been charged with one count of affray and two counts of threatening a person with a bladed article or offensive weapon in a public place
A bus driver who was at the scene shortly following the event described the victims as being attacked with a 'zombie knife'.
The driver, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'It was inside the KFC. People have been interviewed in there since I arrived – I've been stuck here for two hours.
'Someone from TK Maxx said it was a zombie knife. They said it was really bad, a lot of blood.'
A security guard working nearby added the attackers were 'a group of kids with a machete'.
'I came off my break and saw a bunch of police cars come past – they surrounded the area and have cut off everything heading towards Bromley North,' they said.
Following the attack, the town square and shopping centre were blocked off with a cordon put in place between Ringers Road and Ethelbert Road.
An air ambulance, the London Fire Brigade and the Met Police were dispatched to the incident.
A spokesperson from the Met Police said officers were called to an 'altercation' on Bromley High Street at around 14.15pm on Thursday, September 10.
In a statement released on Friday, the force said: 'Officers attended the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance and found four men with stab wounds.
'Three of them were taken to hospital where they are receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. One is in critical condition.
'Seven men were arrested, and they all remain in custody.
'Police enquiries continue and there is not believed to be any wider threat to the public.'
A London Ambulance Service spokesman added: 'We were called at 2.19pm today to reports of a stabbing on Bromley High Street, Bromley.
'We sent ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, an incident response officer and an advanced paramedic.
'We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance. We treated four patients at the scene and took them all to hospital.'
A KFC spokesman said: 'We can confirm that a serious incident took place this afternoon in our Bromley High Street restaurant.
'We are working with the police on their ongoing investigation. Our priority is supporting our team members and customers at this difficult time.'
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