A section of Sillwood Street in Brighton has been cordoned off by police after a violent incident occurred in the area. A man was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries after his face and ear were slashed. The 29-year-old victim was discharged after treatment, and another man who was hit through a taxi window was also assessed at hospital.
A witness described the chaotic scene, saying he was holding his son in one arm and his dog in the other when he saw a man running alongside a taxi. The man was holding the taxi window open and running with the car, which was unusual. As the taxi accelerated, the man had to let go and then appeared to be looking for his next target, waving a large knife and shouting.
The witness, who was in a vulnerable position with his son and dog, was forced to let go of his dog to find safety. He grabbed his son and ran to a nearby restaurant, Uncle Sam's burger restaurant, to escape the attacker. The few seconds it took for the attacker to shift his attention to the dog allowed the witness to get his son to safety.
After the incident, the witness returned to find his dog, Mars, surrounded by people and covered in blood. However, Mars was not hurt and is being hailed as a hero for distracting the attacker. The suspect was taken to the ground by members of the public, and his knife was seized.
A 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm with intent and remains in custody. The police are conducting a thorough investigation and are speaking with witnesses to piece together what happened. Neighbourhood policing officers are patrolling the area, and anyone with concerns is encouraged to speak with them.
The incident occurred just before 6pm, and officers were quickly called to the scene. The area remains cordoned off with police tape, and detectives are working to ensure that they have a full picture of what happened. The victims are being supported by officers, and the investigation is ongoing.
