TERROR AT TESCO
Maniac screaming ‘kill all Muslims’ stabbed teenager in Tesco car park near Heathrow in ‘Far Right terror attack’
A 19-year-old was stabbed by a man armed with a knife and a baseball bat and shouting racist abuse, cops said
A KNIFE and baseball bat rampage near Heathrow Airport was declared by cops a "terrorist incident inspired by the Far Right".
Counter-terror police are leading the investigation after maniac reportedly screaming "Kill all Muslims" stabbed a teenager in a Tesco car park in Stanwell, Surrey.
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A 50-year-old man was arrested and the incident was initially treated as attempted murder.
But it was today upgraded to a terror investigation.
It comes after 50 people were slaughtered in a horrific Far Right attack on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Surrey Police were called just before 10.30pm on Friday after residents saw a man wielding a "long, shiny, metal weapon" while acting aggressively and shouting racist comments.
It is believed that the suspect is the same man who then approached a group of teenagers at a nearby Tesco.
Is then said to have approached a group of youths in a Tesco car park and asked one of the lads if he wanted to die, and then added "Well you're going to die" before swinging the knife at him and stabbing him in the hand, according to .
The youth is then said to have escaped to the nearby McDonald's where he was seen to by ambulance staff and the cops.
ATTACK IN TESCO CAR PARK
Armed officers swooped on the scene as it emerged several nearby vehicles were damaged in residential Viola Avenue.
Neighbours said the suspect lives on the street and the man had shouted "All Muslims must die" and "white supremacists rule".
A witness to the Tesco attack said: "A young group was hanging out in Tesco car park in their cars. A man walked over to one of the vehicles and spoke to the young man who was driving.
"The man asked the young lad if he wanted to die, and then said 'Well you’re going to die' and swung the knife at the young lad.
"The young lad held his hand up and was stabbed in the hand."
Nemer Salem, who lives about 50 metres down the same road, said he sped up when he heard a man shouting racist slurs out of a window on Saturday night as he was walking past at around 8pm.
The 24-year-old, who came to London six years ago from Syria and moved to the area two weeks ago, said: "He started saying some crazy things about Muslims and just shut the window and went inside.
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"I'm a Muslim and I got a little bit worried."
Vincent Sutherland, who lives on the road with his wife and children, said he heard shouting around 8pm on Saturday night.
Mr Sutherland, 54, said: "He’s one of those, he can be alright one minute and goes off the next. But I don’t think he’s capable of being what they’re saying about him - he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. But then maybe, thinking about what he was saying last night.
“He shouted, ‘all Muslims should die’, ‘white supremacists rule’, ‘I’m gonna kill Muslims’.
“It’s not the first time he’s stood in the road with a baseball bat. He’s got a very short fuse. One day he was shouting saying someone had broke his bike. The next day I saw him and he said he’d found the bike.
“He has had a run in with the family who lives below him, an Indian family, and he was saying proper racist things.”
Mariam Parker-Reed said: “All sorts of people go into his house there, you might say very salubrious people. Maybe he does believe in all that stuff.
"He has said some horrible things out of the window before, really racist comments.
One local resident said she came "within feet" of the attacker, who was "walking in the middle of the road swinging a shiny weapon" back and forth.
";I turned around and ran down the next road, hid in an alley, waited for the coast to be clear and ran," she said.
She said he had "something covering his mouth and nose and his hood up, so I could only see his eyes and his forehead".
"It was very scary," she added.
Assistant Commissioner, Neil Basu, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said “it has hallmarks of a terror event, inspired by the far right, and therefore it has been declared a terrorism incident”.
He said: "The investigation is being led by an investigation team based in the, Counter Terrorism Policing, South East region, who are working closely with our colleagues in Surrey Police in order to build a better picture of what has occurred.
It has hallmarks of a terror event, inspired by the far right, and therefore it has been declared a terrorism incident
Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, head of counter terrorism policing
“Police are committed to tackling all forms of toxic extremist ideology, which has the potential to threaten public safety and security.
"Local officers will be out and about providing reassurance and protective security advice to communities, places of worship and businesses.
"Our utmost priority is keeping the public safe. Counter Terrorism Policing and security partners continue to work tirelessly to stop and disrupt attacks in the UK and to prevent people from being drawn into violent extremism.
"Police also routinely carry out daily activities to provide protection and security to the public, institutions and businesses. This activity remains under constant review to counter the threats that the UK is facing.
"The public also has a part to play - and I would urge everyone to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to police."
Det Supt Karen Mizzi said: "This is a shocking and worrying incident and we are working to support our colleagues at Counter Terrorism Police South East with their enquiries and will continue to liaise with the local community.
“I want to reassure residents that we are doing all we can to ensure a thorough investigation takes place and we are supporting those affected by last night’s events.
“Patrols will be stepped up across Stanwell in order to provide assurances to those in the area specifically around mosques and increasing engagement with communities of all faiths, giving advice on how people and places can protect themselves."
Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted: "My thanks to the emergency services for their handling of the terrorist incident in Stanwell.
"My thoughts are with the injured man, and his family and friends. Vile, hateful far-right extremism has no place in our society."
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said in a statement: "We must stand together as a society and reject the terrorists and extremists who seek to divide us.
"Now's the moment for us all to challenge the hatred, ignorance and violence they peddle and stand up for the kind of country we are and want to be.
"A welcoming, tolerant, proudly diverse country that draws strength and prosperity from that diversity.
"As Home Secretary I'm determined that every individual and community should feel safe to live their lives.
"To any communities who are feeling vulnerable and under threat I say we are with you.
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"You benefit our country, you are part of our country, part of us."
Police are stepping up their presence at mosques in the Surrey area following the attack.
Anyone with information regarding the incident should contact Surrey Police via 101 quoting reference number 19060857.
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