LONDON, England: Muslim man, Abdullah, was hailed as a hero after he intervened in a knife attack in London’s busy theater district on Monday, helping to save the victims.
The incident left an 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman injured. The attack occurred against the backdrop of a week of far-right, anti-immigration riots targeting mosques and asylum seekers’ accommodations across England.
Abdullah, a 29-year-old security guard at TWG Tea in Leicester Square, sprang into action upon hearing a scream. “The moment I saw it, I just jumped on him, grabbed his hand, put him down on the floor, and kicked the knife away,” Abdullah recounted. He and his colleagues then restrained the attacker for several minutes until the police arrived.
Despite the chaos, Abdullah and his coworkers provided first aid to the child until emergency services took over. The girl sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries, while the woman’s injuries were described as minor.
Social media quickly erupted in praise for Abdullah, with users highlighting his bravery and questioning why mainstream media had not given more coverage to his heroic actions. Instagram user @sophinakhanartistry wrote, “What a HERO!!!! Where’s the mainstream news about a brown, MUSLIM person saving lives?!”
The incident comes on the heels of anti-immigration riots, which saw far-right groups targeting vulnerable communities. Although no significant unrest occurred over the weekend, authorities remain vigilant, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office stating that the government’s efforts to address the situation are ongoing.
