London Bridge attack: Porter who fought off terrorist with pole reveals what happened
Written by News on 04/12/2019
A porter who tried to stop London Bridge attacker Usman Khan has revealed he followed the terrorist from Fishmongers’ Hall, despite being stabbed.
In a statement released tonight, Lukasz said he “acted instinctively” when Khan began stabbing people at a prison rehabilitation event.
He said: “I and several others tried to stop a man from attacking people inside the building.
“I did this using a pole I found. Someone else was holding a narwhal tusk.”
Lukasz described how Khan attacked him, stabbing him five times, before leaving the building.
He continued: “A number of us followed him out but I stopped at the bollards of the bridge. I had been stabbed and was later taken to hospital to be treated.
The porter says he is “thankful” to have been able to return home and is now “coming to terms with the whole traumatic incident”.
He added: “I would like to express my condolences to the families who have lost precious loved ones.
“I would like to send my best wishes to them and everyone effected by this sad and pointless attack.”
Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, were both killed in the knife attack last Friday.
Fishmongers’ Hall chief executive Toby Williamson told Sky News that Lukasz fought the terrorist “until the end”.
Describing the moment the porter decided to take action, Mr Williamson said: “He’s washing up glasses in the basement. He hears the screams. He’s first aid trained so he makes the conscious decision to go upstairs. It’s pretty obvious what’s happening.
“The terrorist is brandishing two knives with victims all around screaming and people cornered.”
Mr Williamson told how Lukasz confronted the attacker and tried to buy time for others to escape.
“At that point there’s a vicious knife fight in which Lukasz takes five cuts all the way up his arm. He’s hurt badly but doesn’t flinch for a minute.
“He’s then joined by two or three others, and now overwhelmed by numbers the assailant goes down the stairs.”
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Khan managed to reach the steps outside, but the porter was “right behind him”.
Mr Williamson said Lukasz was “hurting badly” and had “lost the strength in his left arm”.
The attacker was pursued by other people onto the bridge, where he was restrained.
Khan was shot dead by police after flashing what looked like a suicide vest, which later turned out to be fake.
The attacker’s relatives have issued a statement through the police, saying they “totally condemn his actions” and expressed their condolences to the victims’ families.
(c) Sky News 2019: London Bridge attack: Porter who fought off terrorist with pole reveals what happened
