Seven arrested and four in hospital after stabbing on Bromley High Street

What happened on Bromley High Street?

Seven men are in custody and four others are in hospital — one in a critical condition — after a stabbing on a busy high street in south-east London on Thursday afternoon.

The violence broke out shortly after 2:15 pm on Bromley High Street. Witnesses described a fight starting at the entrance of a KFC restaurant before spilling out onto the pavement. One onlooker told reporters they saw a man in a grey tracksuit pull out a large machete and run inside the fast-food branch, sending terrified customers fleeing.

The Metropolitan Police said officers arrived at the scene alongside paramedics and London’s Air Ambulance. They found four men with stab wounds. Paramedics treated the four victims before taking them all to hospital. While three of the men are being treated for injuries that are not life-threatening, the fourth remains in a critical condition.

How did local businesses respond?

Nearby shop workers scrambled to protect passers-by as the chaos unfolded. George Ioannou, who was working at Antonio’s Male Grooming next door to the KFC, said he heard a loud bang before people started running down an alleyway. He quickly pulled a crying, elderly woman into his shop and locked the door to shelter her until the area was safe.

Georgiana, the manager of the nearby Merkur Slots gambling shop, also saw the fight spill onto the street. She quickly locked three customers inside the premises to wait for the situation to calm down.

Inside the KFC, evidence of the panic remained hours later. Forensic investigators spent Thursday evening taking photographs and placing evidence markers around the dining area, where abandoned meals still sat on the tables. A spokesperson for KFC confirmed that a "serious incident" had occurred inside the restaurant and said the company is supporting staff and customers.

What is the current situation?

The Metropolitan Police stated there is no broader threat to the public. Officers cordoned off a large section of the High Street between Ringers Road and Ethelbert Road, as well as parts of Elmfield Road and the nearby Church House Gardens. The disruption forced the diversion of 16 bus routes through the area, causing heavy traffic throughout the afternoon.

Peter Fortune, the MP for Bromley and Biggin Hill, said he was in close contact with the police and acknowledged that local residents would have serious safety concerns.

The Met has asked anyone with information or footage of the incident to contact them on 101, quoting reference CAD 4008/10SEP, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously.