A Muslim security guard in London’s theater district bravely intervened to stop a knife attack, potentially saving the lives of the victims.
The incident took place on Monday in the bustling Leicester Square area, where an 11-year-old girl and a 34-year-old woman were injured. The assault occurred following a week of far-right, anti-immigration riots targeting mosques and asylum seeker accommodations across England.
The hero, a 29-year-old named Abdullah who works at a nearby tea shop, heard the commotion and acted immediately. He tackled the attacker, subdued him, and kicked the knife away, preventing further harm.
Abdullah was quickly joined by other bystanders, and together they held the assailant down until the police arrived.
Social media users widely praised Abdullah’s heroic actions, particularly noting that a Muslim man stepped in to save lives. Some critics accused mainstream media of not giving this inspiring story the coverage it deserved, pointing out perceived biases in how such incidents are reported.
The 11-year-old girl sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while the woman’s wounds were less severe. Abdullah expressed his horror at the attack, especially because it involved a child, and said he acted out of a duty to protect the victims.
This incident follows recent far-right riots that have heightened tensions and hostility toward the Muslim community in the UK. The government has pledged to address the aftermath of these disturbances, emphasizing the importance of promoting unity and condemning all forms of violence and discrimination.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
