A 14-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a "machete fight" that occurred at a KFC in Bromley, London, resulting in four individuals sustaining stab wounds. The incident took place on Thursday on Bromley High Street around 2:15 p.m.
The victims, a 21-year-old man and three boys aged between 14 and 17, were taken to the hospital. Initially, the man was in critical condition, but his injuries are now considered non-life-threatening. The teenagers have since been discharged.
A total of eight people were initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Six of these individuals have been released on conditional bail pending the ongoing police investigation. The 14-year-old boy has been charged with one count of affray and two counts of threatening a person with a bladed article or offensive weapon in a public place. He appeared at Bromley Magistrates' Court on Saturday and is scheduled for a further appearance on Wednesday.
Police have stated that there is no wider threat to the public and that the attack is being treated as an isolated event. Witnesses described the assault involving a large knife, with one witness claiming a machete was used. Another witness, a bus driver, reported hearing that a "zombie knife" was involved.
Following the incident, the town square and shopping center in Bromley were cordoned off. Emergency services, including the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance, responded to the scene.
A KFC spokesperson confirmed the incident at their Bromley High Street restaurant and stated they are cooperating with the police investigation, prioritizing support for their staff and customers.