A brawl involving large knives at a KFC restaurant in Bromley, south-east London, resulted in four individuals sustaining stab wounds and subsequent arrests on suspicion of attempted murder. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon.
Authorities responded to reports of an altercation on Bromley High Street around 2:15 p.m. Officers discovered three boys, aged between 14 and 17, and a 21-year-old man with stab wounds. All four were taken to the hospital. The injured boys received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, while the 21-year-old man, initially in critical condition, was later determined to have non-life-threatening injuries.
In addition to the injured parties, four other boys, all between 14 and 17 years old, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. They remain in police custody.
Witnesses described the event as a "gang fight" that began inside the KFC and spilled onto the street. One witness, Sergey Kucherenko, 36, reported seeing a group of youths chasing each other from the restaurant towards a nearby park, hearing screams, and observing people fighting with large knives. He noted that while the individuals appeared young, their use of weapons suggested a gang-related motive.
Forensic investigators were seen collecting evidence at the KFC and on the High Street. Police have increased their presence in the area to reassure the community and encourage anyone with information to come forward. The Metropolitan Police are treating the incident as isolated and are appealing for footage or information, referencing CAD 4008/10SEP or Crimestoppers.
Official figures indicate that knife crime in Bromley has seen an increase, with recorded incidents rising by over 43 percent between 2021 and 2023. A local gang known as M20 has been previously linked to various serious offenses in the area.
A spokesperson for KFC confirmed a serious incident occurred at the restaurant and that the company is cooperating with the police investigation and supporting its staff and customers.