A hooded attacker wielding a large kitchen knife threatened a young girl at a party in Gladstone Park, north-west London, on Sunday evening, sparking panic among dozens of witnesses who screamed and fled the scene.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:03 PM on June 30 during what appeared to be a gathering in the Brent park.
Brazen Daylight Attack
Video footage shows the perpetrator lunging at the victim with the weapon just inches from her face. The girl raised her hands and attempted to back away from the armed attacker.
She backed out a shank, are you mad?” a witness filming the incident can be heard saying in disbelief.
After the initial victim managed to escape, the attacker continued threatening other people before lowering the knife.
Police Response
The Metropolitan Police responded to the scene after being alerted to social media footage of the incident.
Officers saw no one who matched the description of the woman in the video,” a Metropolitan Police spokesperson told media.
No injuries were reported and no weapons were recovered at the scene. Police made no arrests.
Rising Knife Crime Crisis
The incident comes as London grapples with escalating knife violence. There were 15,016 knife or sharp instrument offences recorded by police in London in 2023/24.
This represents a 17% increase from 12,786 incidents in the previous year, according to Office for National Statistics data.
The events today are just truly awful,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said about recent knife incidents, though he was referring to a separate attack.
Youth Violence Epidemic
Knife crime has become particularly prevalent among young people in the capital. London recorded 11 teenage homicides over the last year.
Westminster recorded the highest number of knife crime incidents with 1,100 reported cases in 2023 alone.
Brent, where Sunday’s incident occurred, recorded 533 knife-related incidents in the same period, making it the borough with the highest knife crime in West London.
Community Fear
Dozens of party-goers were seen screaming in terror and attempting to flee as the attacker brandished the weapon.
A voice over a speaker system indicated police presence, stating they were “at the back gate” during the incident.
The Child Accident Prevention Trust warned that young people as young as ten are being found carrying knives.
Political Response
Labour has pledged to get 13,000 police officers back on the streets to tackle the crisis.
The party previously announced a five-step plan including guaranteed sanctions for young people carrying knives.
“We see kids as young as ten carrying knives,” said PC Christina Jones, involved in anti-knife initiatives.
Statistical Context
There was a 20% rise in knife offences in the year ending December 2023 compared to the previous year. The capital recorded 14,577 knife-related crimes in total.
Hospital data shows 3,900 “hospital episodes” in English hospitals in 2023/24 due to assault by sharp objects, a 3.3% increase from the previous year.
Black Londoners make up 45% of knife murder victims and 61% of perpetrators, according to London Assembly data.
Expert Warnings
Security experts emphasize the importance of de-escalation tactics when confronting knife incidents.
These are children who should be worrying about school, not about protecting themselves with a weapon,” Jones added.
The London Security College advises maintaining safe distance and using barriers when encountering armed individuals.
Investigation Continues
Metropolitan Police confirmed investigations into Sunday’s incident remain ongoing. They urged anyone with information to contact authorities.
The force has not released details about the suspect’s identity or potential motives for the attack.
Gladstone Park has experienced elevated crime rates, with 33 violence and sexual offences recorded within half a mile of the park in recent months.
