BID Security Stops Attacker
06 October 2023
A woman stabbed in Birmingham City centre was rescued by brave strangers who tackled the attacker with a chair. Stunned Paul Fogoe, coffee shop worker Ali Mehmet and BID security officer James Crooks reacted quickly to the knife attack in Temple Row.
Mr Fogoe rushed towards the attacker, picking up a chair and striking him over the head after seeing the knife attack close to Great Western Arcade. As the knife fell to the floor, plucky Mr Fogoe put himself between the woman and her attacker, police revealed.
The stabbing was in broad daylight at around 9.50 am on Tuesday, August 16 last year when the city centre was bustling with workers. Scenes from the police cordon at the time are shown in the video below.
The woman stabbed near House of Fraser and St Philip’s Cathedral at Pigeon Park was taken to hospital but did not suffer life-changing injuries.
The three have been rewarded with a Good Citizen Award from West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford but will also receive a Police Public Bravery Silver Medal later this year.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “Thanks to the quick thinking and courageous actions of all three men, we were able to locate and arrest the attacker.
“The trio’s intervention may also have ultimately saved the life of the woman who was attacked. She survived the ordeal and was treated for her injuries.”
