Armed police have descended on Dagenham Heathway after a “lunatic” attacker stabbed a man in broad daylight and chased him down the road, covered in his victim’s blood.
According to eyewitness reports, just after 1pm the victim was screaming as he ran away from his attacker who was still wielding the knife in his blood soaked hands. He is still at large.
Elena Rogers, who was walking down the road with her partner at the time, said: “The attacker was so brazen - he didn’t even care that everyone could see him. The man’s a lunatic.
“The one who had been stabbed was screaming and you could tell he was in agony.
“He was running up the road shouting ‘help me, help me.’
“I don’t know how he kept himself running.
She says witnessing the aftermath of the depraved attack was a shocking experience.
“It shook me up a bit. I’m only glad I didn’t have my children with me.”
The man was initially stabbed in nearby Sterry Road before making a dash for the main road. Bystanders then alerted the emergency services.
They found the victim, a man believed to be in his 40s, and took him to a nearby hospital. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
Eyewitnesses report a lightening quick response by police and paramedics. An air ambulance was also flown to the scene and police helicopters were circling above the area.
Police were initially told the attacker had a gun as well as a knife, although there is no evidence of shots being fired and no firearms were found at the crimescene.
There has been a recent spike in knife crime across London and this is the second daylight stabbing in Dagenham in as many weeks - a man was stabbed in the chest in Honour Gardens on September 22.
There was gridlock on the roads on Monday afternoon following the incident, with Heathway, Sterry Road and Reede Road all closed to traffic.
Shops and nearby supermarkets Iceland and Lidl were also forced to shut in the aftermath of the stabbing.
Police are continuing with their enquiries. Anyone with information should call the police on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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