London: Illegal Migrant Arrested in Triple Stabbing

An Afghan national arrested after a dog walker was killed in a triple stabbing entered the UK illegally on a lorry.

The 22-year-old murder suspect was tasered and arrested minutes after the killing, in Uxbridge, west London.

Neighbours claimed the 49-year-old dog walker, named locally as Wayne Broadhurst, who was well known in the community, was killed after he allegedly intervened to stop a 45-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy from being attacked.

It is understood the Afghan national entered the UK clandestinely on a lorry in 2020 and was granted asylum and leave to remain in 2022.

He was not believed to have been living in an asylum hotel or in Home Office accommodation at the time of the attack.

The Metropolitan Police described the mass stabbing, which took place shortly before 5pm on Monday, as a “shocking, senseless act of violence”.

Paramedics tried to save the dog walker’s life but he died at the scene, a spokesman for Scotland Yard said.

Graphic footage circulating on social media appeared to show Broadhurst being stabbed repeatedly as he attempted to fight off the attacker.

The 45-year-old man was said to have suffered life-changing injuries in the assault. The 14-year-old boy’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

The attack is not being treated as terrorism, and detectives are working to establish the relationship between the suspect and the three victims, the Met said.

Luis Buckland, 19, who lives nearby, said he came home from work on Monday evening and heard police officers shouting: “Taser, Taser, get on the floor.”

He said: “He was on the floor with two officers on him. It is a shock. [The victim] was walking his own dog minding his own business.

“Who would have thought taking his dog out for a walk that it would be the last time leaving his house? I’m thinking do I have to look over my shoulder? Do I have to be paranoid?

“I have seen him walking his dog, I have a dog so our dogs play. He lives just around the corner.”

Matt Houston, 45, who lives nearby, said: “I used to walk my dog and see him in passing. He was a nice guy. I knew his girlfriend.”

Harvey Pritchard, 22, walked past the scene with his young brother. He said: “This has probably scared half the people around here. Everybody used to know everyone.

“Especially with Halloween around the corner, kids going trick or treating. It is quite emotional.”

A neighbour said Broadhurst was the last person you’d think would be attacked, adding: “He’s a bin man so you only see him in the early morning and the evenings.”

Footage posted online appears to show the suspect walking along a residential street, before two police officers sprint after him, one pointing a Taser and shouting “drop the knife” and “get on the floor”.

Several others join them before the Taser is fired and the man falls to the ground.

According to residents, a fight had broken out involving the suspect, who was allegedly living as a lodger in the home of the 45-year-old for the past six months.

Eyewitnesses claimed the suspect chased two victims out of the house before Broadhurst tried to intervene.

Logan Woolley, 16, said he saw a man running down the street with a knife in his hand “covered in blood”. He said he believed the alleged suspect had just moved in.

Chief Supt Jill Horsfall said the attack was a “shocking and senseless act of violence”. She added: “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time.”

Horfsall urged members of the public not to speculate on social media about the attack. “We ask that you rely on us for information, and that you do not share sensitive footage,” she said.

A Home Office spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those impacted by this horrific incident.

“We are receiving regular updates from the Metropolitan Police. The priority must now be for the police to investigate so those responsible can be brought to justice.”

The Met revealed that the suspect was an Afghan national after the National Police Chief’s Council published new guidance for forces in the summer.

The guidance states that forces should consider disclosing the ethnicity of suspects in certain cases, particularly those that are high-profile or sensitive.

It was hoped that the change to the guidance would help to combat the spread of misinformation on social media.

Following the incident, more than 100 people gathered by a parade of shops around the corner from Midhurst Gardens for a vigil.

The crowd, which included children in prams and pensioners, walked towards the police cordon where they lit candles and left floral tributes.

At the police cordon, the community held a minute’s silence that ended with applause. “Love to you all, protect each other,” one of the organisers told the vigil.