Israeli tourist stabbed by Russell Square attacker tells of horrific moment US woman was killed
Yovel Levkowski had tried to help 19-year-old knifeman before realising he was the attacker
AN Israeli victim of the Russell Square knife attack has described how she mistakenly tried to help the knifeman – and then watched him kill a helpless tourist.
Yovel Levkowski, 18, was herself injured when she went to assist the 19-year-old attacker, thinking he was running away from a terror attack.
But she watched on in horror as she realised that the man in her presence was the danger as she saw him stab to death an American tourist in her 60s.
Yovel said: “On the way back to the hotel I heard screaming and saw two men running towards me.
“I don't know if it's luck or fate but it's a miracle. The woman who was standing next to me died before my eyes."
Speaking to Y Net, she added: “I was afraid it was a terrorist incident, and I was sure that the two men fleeing from the event were victims.
“I went to help the first one of the men and felt pain in my hand.
“I thought I just got hit, but it turned out he was stabbing me. The other man chasing him was trying to stop him, and in the end managed to catch him.”
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Witnesses described victims “screaming and covered in blood” following the rampage in which the woman was brutally knifed by a man around 10.30pm last night in central London.
Police sources confirmed the attacker hailed from Norway and is of Somali descent – and added that he has shown no signs of radicalisation.
Today Yovel posted an emotional message on Facebook, saying the incident had taught her to "appreciate every second".
"I don't know whether to call it luck or fate but it's obviously some sort of miracle compared to the woman who was standing next to me who perished before my eyes.
"Time to say thank you to the wonderful people in my life. Thanks everyone for the warm wishes."
Other terrified onlookers described the crazed knifeman chasing pedestrians and “lunging for anyone he could see” as police confirmed mental health was a likely factor.
A 19-year-old man was arrested at the scene after being tasered by police in Russell Square as officers yelled: “Put it down.”
Yovel had been staying at a hotel close to the scene with her grandfather in a final holiday before she begins Israeli national service next week.
Describing the scene she witnessed as she emerged from a nearby Thai restaurant, she added: “I saw a woman lying on the floor, covered in blood. Her husband was supporting her.
“Suddenly I discovered that I was bleeding. I looked and saw that the attacker stabbed me in the hand as I was running.
“A man at the scene tried to calm me down, but he was also covered in blood and wounded by stabbing.
“Within a few minutes, six police cars and an ambulance sealed off the area and began to help the wounded.
“They tried to revive the woman covered in blood, but she had lost a lot of blood and within minutes she was dead.”
Yovel’s comments come as dramatic footage emerges of the suspect being arrested by police last night.
Witnesses reported the dying woman’s final words were: “He’s still here, he’s still here.”
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