Teenager's hand left 'hanging by a thread' after axe attack in Islington

 
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

A teenager’s hand was said to be left “hanging by a thread” after a terrifying axe attack in front of dozens of shoppers and diners on one of London’s busiest high streets.

The 18-year-old who was also armed with a machete was attacked by another youth wielding a hatchet in Upper Street, Islington, at 6pm last night.

Another teenager, who is also 18, suffered stab wounds in the attack.

Restaurant workers rushed to the first victim’s aid as he lay bleeding on the pavement yards from where people were dining opposite Islington Town Hall.

Detectives are investigating possible links to a surge in postcode gang violence in the borough.

Both teenagers were later arrested by police for grievous bodily harm.

Knife attack

1/8

A workman who saw the incident said the assailant had slashed the one victim’s arm and had left his hand “hanging by a thread.”

Ferat Disha, manager of the Blue Legume restaurant, who helped bandage the victim’s wound, said: “One had a knife, not a normal knife but professional looking, and the other an axe. A lorry driver who saw it all said they charged at each other so maybe they knew each other.

“The guy with the axe hit him on the wrist and there was a big cut. Blood was shooting out of his arm.

“I got a cloth and gave it to a guy who was pressing on the wound. His hand was almost off it was that bad.

“He was really lucky that people were there otherwise he could have died because he was losing so much blood.”

Councillor Paul Convery said the victim had suffered a serious wound in which one of his fingers had been half severed.

Read More

“This gang on gang attack took place in one of Islington’s most crowded streets at a time when dozens and dozens of people were returning from work and starting to socialise and that is very worrying.”

Frederico Perez, manager at the Comedor steak house, said: “When he walked past the restaurant he was already covering his arm, he was cut very, very badly. Maybe he was trying to protect himself with his hand.

Attack: the teenager was found close to Islington Town Hall (Picture: Google Street View)

“There was a couple sat there eating so they must have been very shocked by the whole thing.”

The victim collapsed in the doorway of Zaco off-licence and was treated on the street by paramedics before being taken to the Whittington Hospital in Highgate.

Detectives from the Met’s Trident Gangs unit are investigating the attack and appealed for witnesses to come forward today.

The attack, captured on CCTV by a local business owner, has raised fears of an escalation in a postcode war between gangs from rival housing estates in the upmarket district.

A Met spokesman said: “Police were called at around 6pm to reports of one man attacking another with what was reported to be an axe or hatchet. Officers attended and found a male in his late teens suffering from an injury to his arm. Another teenager was also injured. Their injuries are not thought to be life threatening. Officers from Islington are investigating.”

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in