‘Knifeman’ charged with murder after man, 77, killed and two others injured in ‘random machete attack at market’

Rumours were flying round London after this murder and attack in SE London on Sunday morning. The defendant has now been named and charged with murder and he is due to appear at Croydon Magistrates court today. Therefore I have something concrete to post. 

From The Sun, the Metropolitan Police statement and  Court news UK. Except the tweets I was considering were removed while I was drafting. Oh dear!

A SUSPECTED knifeman has been charged with murder after a man was killed and two others injured in an alleged random machete attack at a market.

Stalls were abandoned and shoppers ran in terror during the Remembrance Sunday rampage shortly before the two-minute silence.

Victim Hilkiah McLeggan, aged 77, suffered fatal wounds and cried as he lay dying: “I’m gone, it’s the end of my life.’’

Two other men suffered stab injuries before a hero stallholder fought off the attacker with a metal bar.

Police arrived and arrested a man in his 60s on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

The Met police revealed on Monday that Ali Musse has been charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Cops were called at around 10.40am on Sunday to East Street in Walworth before Hilkiah McLeggan, 77, died at the scene. One stallholder, who comforted the fatally wounded victim, told The Sun: “There was blood everywhere. The victim shouted, ‘I am gone. It’s the end of my life’ and collapsed and died.

Before the charges were confirmed, Scotland Yard said: “Nobody else is sought and the incident is not being treated as terrorism.”

Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, lead for policing in Southwark, said: ” . . . we are aware of posts circulating on social media, implying that this was a terrorist incident. Our enquiries indicate this is not the case and we ask the public not to speculate.”

The claim by those who were there that the assailant is Somali turns out to be accurate. 

The claim by those who were there that one of the injured had an arm severed isn’t exactly verified, but the injuries are very serious indeed. From the BBC

The Metropolitan Police said officers found three people with serious injuries and one of them, Hilkiah McLeggan, 77, from Southwark, died at the scene. Two other men were taken to hospital and both remain there, with one of them in a critical condition.

The claim by those that were there that they heard a cry of Allah Akbar has not been addressed, verified or otherwise explained. 

The police declared it not a terrorist incident but potentially a mental health issue within hours of the incident. Their diagnostic skills must be the envy of NHS colleagues.