Enraged cyclist launches ‘zombie knife’ attack on wayward motorist
A CYCLIST wielding a huge “zombie knife” tried to attack a driver who pulled out in front of him in a busy high street.
Video filmed on a dashboard camera from another car showed the moment the man chased after a Volkswagen Polo in London Road, Croydon, Surrey, before trying to smash the driver’s side window.
Apparently enraged at the close shave, the cyclist jumped off his bike and gave chase as the panicked driver, 19, bumped into another car, bringing his car to a halt.
The footage showed the cyclist pulling out a long serrated blade, which looked to be more than 10 inches long. Brandishing the knife, he kicked at the vehicle and slashed at the windows repeatedly while the driver cowered inside. The cyclist eventually managed to smash one of the passenger side windows, forcing the driver to flee the car. He was not injured.
The footage also appeared to show two other young men run toward the scene, although there is no suggestion they were known to the cyclist or the driver. As they stood by the car the cyclist appeared to calm down and he returned to his bike.
No arrests have been made after the incident on Wednesday afternoon, Scotland Yard said, but a spokesman said inquiries were continuing.
In 2016 legislation came into force meaning anyone caught in possession of a “zombie knife” could face up to four years in prison.
So-called “zombie knives” often have serrated edges and words on them that allegedly glamorise violence and are inspired by blades frequently seen in horror films. They are regularly marketed as collectors’ items and can be bought online for as little as £10.
Available in bright colours, some are sold in packages alongside crossbows or swords, which, says the marketing publicity, are “great for dealing with the walking dead”.
The attack comes amid a knife crime epidemic in London that has so far claimed at least 40 lives this year.
Earlier this year two men who used a 12in “zombie knife” to stab three teenage boys during the Notting Hill Carnival in 2016 were jailed for 15 years. Two of the victims received serious wounds.
In an incident last month a driver was seriously injured during a suspected road-rage attack. A London taxi driver is believed to have stabbed a minicab driver with a screwdriver following a rush hour dispute.
A 51-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm after the attack outside London Euston station on May 18.
The 34-year-old was taken to hospital suffering from a stab wound to his shoulder.