A man was found lying in a pool of broken glass following an alleged stabbing last night close to a fancy restaurant popular with celebrities including Liam Gallagher. The incident occurred outside Superette grocery store on Swain’s Lane, Highgate at around 8pm.
It is understood the man was treated at the scene for his injuries before being taken to hospital by ambulance. It is not clear what his condition is. A police cordon was subsequently put up at the junction with Highgate Road outside the Duke of St Albans pub. Harry Lobek, owner of the nearby London Shell Co restaurant, told the Camden New Journal: “I went to look and saw someone on the floor just bleeding out. The girlfriend was screaming.
“I got down and lifted up his t-shirt and had two puncture wounds in his back about two centimetres wide, side by side. I grabbed a towel and began to put pressure on the wound and asked the people to call the police and an ambulance. The victim on the floor kept asking me to move him because he was lying on a whole load of broken glass which was cutting his knees.”
Mr Lobek said he helped police officers lift the victim off the floor before paramedics cut his clothes off. He had been stabbed three times in the back, according to the restaurant owner.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, a paramedic in a fast response car, an incident response officer and a clinical team manager.
“We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London’s Air Ambulance. Our first paramedics arrived in five minutes. We treated a man at the scene and took him to a major trauma centre.”
The Metropolitan Police said in an update this afternoon that a man has been arrested. The statement read: “Police were alerted at 21:51hrs on Thursday, 10 April to reports of a stabbing in Highgate.
“Officers joined London Ambulance Service at the scene at Swain’s Lane, N6, where a 34-year-old man had received stab wound injuries to the back by a small group men. The injuries were not deemed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
“A 54-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He remains in custody for questioning. Enquiries are ongoing.
“If you were a witness or have any information which may help, please call police on 101 with the reference 7629/10Apr or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Superette said it would close today and possibly also tomorrow. Cllr Lorna Russell, who lives in nearby Holly Lodge, said: “I am both shocked and horrified to see this on our doorstep. My thoughts are with the victim and his family.”
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