Three courageous police officers who apprehended a drug-fuelled killer wielding a samurai-style sword are being recognised for their heroism with a Pride of Britain award
Marcus Arduini Monzo had already slaughtered an innocent teenager and seriously injured a fellow officer, when Inspector Moloy Campbell put public duty before personal safety and stopped the maniac.
Recalling the terrifying rampage in Hainault, East London, in April, 2024, Insp Campbell said: “There were more calls coming in about this incident. There was one saying there was a man running around with a large knife, someone else mentioned a sword. At that point we realised this is really serious.”
Extraordinary footage shows 37-year-old Monzo attacking the inspector with the sword, slicing through his body camera and his hand and almost severing his thumb.
But his bravery and that of his colleagues PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield and PC Cameron King, who had already tried to apprehend him, meant Monzo was arrested and later jailed for at least 40 years.
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Insp Campbell, who with his two colleagues, will receive an Outstanding Bravery award at next week’s Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, with P&O Cruises, said: “When I challenged Mr Monzo, I knew it may be the last decision I would ever make. I briefly pictured my wife and step-daughter before engaging. It’s a horrible feeling, being in a confrontation which feels like a ‘him or me’ situation.”
The terrifying events began in April last year when Monzo crashed a van into a house in Hainault, hitting a pedestrian, before leaving the vehicle brandishing a 60cm samurai-style sword.
He next launched a frenzied attack on teenager Daniel Anjorin, 14, who had left his house moments before to go to school and, tragically, died at the scene from injuries to his neck and chest.
Monzo, who claimed to have an alternative persona of a “professional assassin” also attacked an ambulance, forcing paramedics to retreat. PC Mechem-Whitfield and PC King were the first police officers to confront the killer, chasing him down an alleyway. He attacked PC Mechem-Whitfield with the sword, causing serious arm injuries that nearly severed her hand.
Despite having no TASER and having run out of pepper spray, PC King drew his baton and stood between his stricken colleague and Monzo, who ran off, before being cornered on a driveway by other officers.
Recalling the attack, he said: “I remember getting out of the car and my priority was to go over there and give first aid to Daniel. I didn’t have a clue at that point that the suspect was standing behind me. To be facing someone with a metre-long sword is petrifying.
“Yas (PC Mechem-Whitfield) had her TASER out ready and he jumped out in front of Yas with his sword by his head. I’ve seen him hit maybe three times. The severity of the injuries was just horrific and I remember just thinking, I can’t let him finish her off. I put myself between Yas and him and shouted at him. Genuinely, in that moment, I thought ‘this is it, we’re going to die in this alleyway.’”
With pepper spray having no effect, Inspr Campbell, who had rushed to the scene from his station’s morning briefing and did not have his TASER, also turned to his baton. The inspector sustained savage injuries, but his intervention meant other officers could TASERMonzo and finally brought him down.
Insp Campbell said: “He was slashing at me with the sword and the blade came down, slicing my hand. I knew the bleed was catastrophic so I had to withdraw. Whilst I was being treated by my colleagues, I heard the golden words ‘subject secure’, which was music to my ears.”
Kirsty O’Connor from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The courage shown by PC Mechem-Whitfield, PC King, Inspector Campbell and others who selflessly sought to apprehend Arduini-Monzo whilst facing extreme personal danger was exceptional and undoubtedly prevented further loss of life. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.”
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