The man who tried to catch the suspect from last weekend’s stabbing at Notting Hill Carnival said he wasn’t intimidated at all.
Valentine Simatchenko, who stuck his leg out to trip the suspect who was running away with a bloody knife, fought in the bloody war in Chechnya.
Simatchenko, whose battle wounds include a long scar across his stomach, claims to have witnessed over 1,000 people being shot during the war.
The 55-year-old, who was born in Ukraine, was at the Carnival with his Russian wife Marina, 53.
So when he saw a youth running away after Rio Andre, 20, was stabbed at Notting Hill Carnival, he didn’t flinch.
The suspect skipped past and ran away, chased by two police officers. However, he allegedly dropped the knife and outran them.
Notting Hill stabbing: teenager arrested
Notting Hill stabbing: teenage boy charged
Andre, a Hertfordshire University student was knifed in the stomach on Monday evening. Yesterday he was in a serious but stable condition.
Even though there were 6,500 police officers on hand at the carnival, Simatchenko was the first to react to the attack, despite his arms being full of shopping bags.
He said: “All I wanted to do was help the police try and stop him.
"It all happened so fast and I just acted instinctively. I was annoyed he got away but am pleased to hear the police have been making arrests.
"I am unemployed and know how hard life can be, but there is never any excuse for violence."
Simatchenko came to the UK as an asylum seeker in 1996 to escape the Chechen bloodbath.
He was granted indefinite leave for his fighting in the war.
Scotland Yard said a 16-year-old accused of grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon appeared at West London Youth Court yesterday.
