‘Ordinary people’ stepped in as killer started his rampage

ORDINARY people battled valiantly to barricade the doors of Fishmongers’ Hall to protect others from Usman Khan, it has emerged.

Toby Williamson, chief executive of the Fishmongers Company, yesterday said: “There was a scream, there was blood. People thought it was an exercise at first. It turned into a game of pinball bomb with added knives.”

Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, both died within moments as Khan, armed with two large knives, lashed out. Others did everything in their power to prevent further bloodshed.

“This is an extraordinary thing done by ordinary people,” Mr Williamson told the BBC. “They took a decision that enough was enough. They were determined it wasn’t going to go on.”

He said: “In reception, you’ve got

Dawn and Gareth, one trying to keep that door closed against a vicious knifeman, the other calmly placing the emergency calls. Peter, Anna. They appear on the scene – wrong time, wrong place – and make instant decisions as to who to protect and where to go.”

Andy and Lukasz, two other employees, then launched the “fightback”.

“They used fire extinguishers, chairs, narwhal tusks ripped off the wall in the heat of the moment and they took the game back to the knifeman. When that door was forced open at knifepoint, they follow out on to the pavement, shouting at others to get back. They know there’s a bomb there.

“They took a decision that enough was enough. They were determined it wasn’t going to go on.

“They are two of the most humble people but in the heat of the moment, people do extraordinary things.”