Civil servant slashed ‘at random’ by maniac shouting ‘are you Home Office?’ outside Priti Patel’s manor

KNIFE crime struck at the heart of Britain yesterday when a civil servant was stabbed outside the Home Office — after a hero lawyer was knifed to death by mindless teen yobs.

Blood poured from the face of the government worker, in his 60s, in Westminster. And in Newcastle, Peter Duncan, 52, was fatally stabbed as he tried to break up a city centre fight.

Britain’s knife crime epidemic was exposed to Home Secretary Priti Patel in savage fashion on Thursday when a civil servant was stabbed “at random” in view of her office.
A pony-tailed maniac carrying a box containing a ferret is suspected of launching an unprovoked attack on a government worker in his 60s.

The victim’s face was slashed during the horrific lunchtime incident outside the Home Office HQ in Westminster.

Witnesses described how the knifeman had been asking people outside the Marsham Street building “Are you Home Office?” before attacking the civil servant, who was wearing a government pass.

The victim staggered inside pouring with blood and begging for help.

Ms Patel was in there at the time and became aware of the horror as armed police flooded the area.

FEAR FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS

The victim was understood to work for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, also in Marsham Street.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing GBH with intent and possession of a CS spray, a prohibited weapon under the Firearms Act.

Following the attack, Ms Patel ordered all staff to stop wearing ID outside the HQ.

She and Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick addressed all staff from their ministries together in the building’s large atrium on Thursday afternoon to update them and offer reassurance.

The victim was taken by ambulance to hospital following the 1pm attack. Police said his injuries were not life-threatening.

KNIFEMAN'S HUNT FOR HOME OFFICE STAFF

A witness said: “The attacker walked up behind the worker casually and appeared to hit him, causing him to turn around.

“The victim then screamed as he was slashed. There was suddenly blood everywhere and he fell to his knees inside the building after staggering.

“People were panicking and screaming, thinking it was a terror attack. There were pools of blood over the floor with people trying to help this poor guy.

“But the attacker appeared calm in the middle of it all and went over to a group of women who scattered in panic.

“I saw the flash of what appeared to be a large knife — it was terrifying.

“The victim had what looked like a very deep slash wound. His shirt was soaked in blood and was taken off him before he was led away for treatment.”

Another witness said the knifeman had earlier asked two girls if they worked for the Home Office. The pair said: “No”.

They added: “Then he moved on and the next thing I saw was commotion, everyone running around, it was chaos.”

KNIFEMAN ARREST

Exclusive video footage obtained by The Sun shows the attacker casually walking away to nearby Smith Square, and sitting on the steps of St John’s Church.

He had a backpack and a pet box with a ferret inside. The animal was taken into care by police following the man’s arrest.

They found a knife in a sheath in the rucksack, along with CS spray.

A witness, who the knifeman had calmly sat next to, said: “He sighed, as if he had been having a tough day.”

An onlooker to the arrest said: “The police screeched round the corner, jumped out and screamed at him to get on the floor. Then they pulled out his belongings from the bag and took a picture of the knife which had a five-inch blade.” The attack came days after Ms Patel encouraged officers to increase stop-and-search of suspects to curb knife crime. She is also implementing plans to recruit another 20,000 police officers.

On Thursday night a Home Office spokesman said: “We are keeping an open mind about any possible motive at this early stage.”

Mr Jenrick said: “I’m deeply shocked by this horrific attack on a colleague. My thoughts, and those of all my staff, are with him and his family.”

Chief Supt Ged Noble, of Northumbria Police, said Peter was killed in a “chance encounter”.

He said: “We have very quickly made seven arrests. The persons are known to us.”

Police yesterday continued to search the area, including a nearby church graveyard. Armed cops were seen in the city.

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