Watch restaurant owner tackle knifeman in shop a year after son, 14, stabbed to death

In the security camera footage, Mr Cools can be seen wrestling the attacker who is wearing a black jacket with a hood over his head.
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This is the moment a restaurant owner tackles a knifeman in his shop just a year after his 14 year old son was stabbed to death in an unrelated incident.

The man was threatening a girl in his Caribbean food shop when Julius Cools stepped in to remove the machete-length knife.

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Last November, Julius’ son Jermaine was fatally stabbed near West Croydon train station for which a 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged. The incident was unrelated to the footage of Mr Cools removing the weapon from the would-be knifeman.

At 14 years old, Jermaine was the youngest person to be stabbed and killed in London in 2021, a year in which 30 teenagers lost their lives, setting a grim record for teen stabbings.

In the security camera footage, Mr Cools can be seen wrestling the attacker who is wearing a black jacket with a hood over his head.

Julius Cools stepped in to remove the machete-length knife. Photo: Julius Cools/ SWNSJulius Cools stepped in to remove the machete-length knife. Photo: Julius Cools/ SWNS
Julius Cools stepped in to remove the machete-length knife. Photo: Julius Cools/ SWNS

The pair roll into chairs and tables and into the counter before he yanks the blade away from his attacker and orders him out of Cools Kitchen on Portland Road, South Norwood.

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But he said that the police didn’t seem interested in even looking at the CCTV footage and the knifeman is still at large.

Describing the incident which he said happened around three weeks ago, Mr Cools said: “I was in my shop. The girl came in to buy something, asking about the food and he came in so angry and arguing and I realised it was getting out of hand.

“I tried to separate them, I pushed the guy away telling him to get out of my shop and I realised he had his knife.

“I don’t know where I got the energy from but I just did. He could have stabbed me, I don’t know.”

This is the moment a restaurant owner tackles a knifeman in his shop. Photo: Julius Cools/ SWNSThis is the moment a restaurant owner tackles a knifeman in his shop. Photo: Julius Cools/ SWNS
This is the moment a restaurant owner tackles a knifeman in his shop. Photo: Julius Cools/ SWNS
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Asked if he had ever seen the man before, the 47-year-old said: “I think he came in the shop before but I think he was following the girl from around the corner as she came into the shop.

“It is a good job she came in otherwise he could have attacked her in the street.”

He said that he kept the knife even though the attacker was asking for it back.

In the video he can be seen arguing across the counter before giving up and walking out.

Julius added: “The police came but they did not do nothing.

Mr Cools can be seen wrestling the attacker who is wearing a black jacket with a hood over his head. Photo: Julius Cools/ SWNSMr Cools can be seen wrestling the attacker who is wearing a black jacket with a hood over his head. Photo: Julius Cools/ SWNS
Mr Cools can be seen wrestling the attacker who is wearing a black jacket with a hood over his head. Photo: Julius Cools/ SWNS
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“They could have gone down the road and caught the guy if they were interested.

“When they came, I gave a statement and I said just watch the video but they were not interested.

“I said when my son was killed, nobody ever helped him. I tried to help that little girl. The same thing that happened with me happened with my son.”

Julius said: “All I was thinking that day was that the girl could have died in the same way in my shop.

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“I was doing it to protect that girl, she was only 16 or 17, she has her whole life ahead of her.

“We live in a world where if you leave your house you don’t know if you are going back home. This is the life we are living now. These young kids don’t care, they will kill you and laugh about it. They do not care, they have no Lord in their heart.

All I am saying to people now is to be careful, kids and adults, anyone can get killed any time, any day. I am not scared of them, I don’t care. Since I lost my son last year I have no fear.”

A Met Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at approximately 4.20pm on Friday, October 21, to reports of a male in possession of a knife who had entered a restaurant in Portland Road, SE25. Officers attended but the male had left the scene.

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“The occupant in the shop was spoken to – he was not injured. He did not wish to engage with police but advised the incident had been captured on CCTV.

“CCTV of the incident was viewed but the male could not be identified. At this time the investigation is closed but any further information will be assessed and investigated accordingly.”