Police have arrested eight teenagers and a 21-year-old man in connection with a stabbing incident that occurred at a KFC restaurant in Bromley, south-east London. The incident, which witnesses described as a "gang fight," left four people with stab wounds and resulted in multiple arrests on suspicion of attempted murder.
Officers were called to Bromley High Street around 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2026, following reports of an altercation. Upon arrival, police and emergency services found three boys, aged between 14 and 17, and a 21-year-old man with stab wounds. The injured parties were transported to hospitals for treatment. The 21-year-old man was initially in critical condition, but his injuries were later deemed non-life-threatening. The boys also sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Following the incident, all four injured individuals, along with four other boys aged between 14 and 17, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. They remain in police custody.
Witnesses reported that the altercation began inside the KFC restaurant and subsequently spilled onto the street, attracting the attention of shoppers. One witness, Sergey Kucherenko, 36, described seeing a group of youths chasing each other from the restaurant, noting the presence of large knives. "It was obviously gang related. But I was confused, because they looked so young, but were waving huge knives about," he told the Daily Mail.
Another individual, a friend of one of the 14-year-old victims, stated that the boy was attacked "for no reason at all," describing him as an innocent person. "He was out near the high street when he was attacked. They just done it. They were gang members," the friend said.
Local businesses have expressed concerns about rising youth-related crime. One shopkeeper, who wished to remain anonymous, described the area as becoming a "war zone" and noted an increase in disruptive behavior from groups of young people, including filming, property damage, and theft. The shopkeeper has reportedly installed additional CCTV to combat the issue.
According to a London Violence Reduction Unit analysis for the year ending September 2023, Bromley ranked 23rd out of London's boroughs for knife crime and 21st for violence with injury. However, official figures show a notable increase in knife crimes recorded in Bromley, rising from 533 in 2021 to 764 in 2023, an increase of over 43 percent in two years.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that they are increasing police presence in the area and are appealing for any witnesses or individuals with footage or information to come forward by calling 101, quoting CAD 4008/10SEP, or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A spokesperson for KFC confirmed that a serious incident had taken place at the restaurant and that the company is cooperating with the police investigation while supporting its staff and customers.