Axe-wielding man runs off after being confronted by passer-by in Brixton

By Sean Delaney

A man wielding an axe and threatening people has been chased from the scene after a passing pedestrian confronted him and chased him away.

The man was queuing up in the Sainsbury’s Local on Brixton Road, Brixton, this afternoon at 1.30pm before he came out the supermarket brandishing a large black axe and started to threaten people, who dispersed in all directions.

The man with the weapon was described as being in his early 20s, around 5ft 9in tall, with a round, clean face of African origin and was wearing jeans with a black tracksuit top and jeans.

The man ran out in front of the road bringing a bus to a halt before a second man, dressed all in black, described as being of Jamaican origin in his late 30s, shouted “Ay man” and confronted him.

The attacker ran up Station Road and out of sight with the second man in his pursuit.

Loretta Oscislawski, 55, who lives on Brixton Road, was behind the man with the axe when he was in the queue in the Sainsbury’s Local but believes he had not been planning an attack.

She said: “He looked very normal and clean and did not come across as nervous or anything. He seemed really calm as if he was waiting for something.
When he [the second man] ran after him I wondered why was he chasing him.”

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called at around 1.40pm on Friday, 18 January to reports of a man with an axe on Atlantic Road, Brixton. Officers attended the scene and searched the area but no trace of the man was found.”

Anyone who saw the incident or has any information is asked to call the Police on 999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.