Man, 29, carrying pet ferret charged with GBH after ‘slashing worker in face’ outside Home Office

A MAN has been charged with GBH with intent after allegedly slashing a man in the face outside the Home Office.

Dominic Hornberger, 29, was arrested with a pet ferret as the victim was left with blood pouring from his face in the broad daylight attack in central London.

The man, from Birmingham, was also charged with possession of a knife in a public place.

He appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 17 August.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, 13 September.

The attack threw Britain's knife crime epidemic into the spotlight as the civil servant was injured, while a top lawyer was knifed to death in Newcastle just days before.

A 17-year-old boy has since been charged with the murder of Peter Duncan, 52, after the dad tried to step in between a fight outside a Greggs.

And witnesses had been left horrified as the slashing attack unfolded in London last week.

One bystander said: "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.

"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."

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 to offer reassurance.

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