Man spotted with machete in Harold Hill McDonald’s

Picture: Google Maps

Police have launched an investigation after a man was allegedly seen “waving a machete around” in McDonald’s in Harold Hill.

Scared diners were shocked when it happened yesterday afternoon, with children in the restaurant at the time.

One witness told Time 107.5 that the suspect appeared to be targeting a person who jumped over the counter to escape from the knife-wielding thug.

Lily Allen, 19, from Collier Row was inside at the time and said: “I was sat eating with two children and one man jumped over a counter and another man ran in after and pulled out a large knife that looked like a machete and then after that all the people in McDonald’s ran to the back of the restaurant.

“We were definitely worried about the children’s safety especially as most of the McDonalds’ staff had left so the customers were left to run and hide themselves and nobody else was there to tell us what to do or help us.

“The children don’t want to really go there anymore, they’re scared it’s going to happen again. Tthey don’t understand it’s not something that happens everyday. It was a rare event that they didn’t need to see, so it’s a worry they have seen something like this.”

Police have confirmed that they were called to the restaurant in Straight Road just before 4pm yesterday following reports of “a male with a large knife.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Officers attended the location. The male had made off prior to the arrival of police.

“Officers searched the local area but no arrest has been made.

“Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 5385/01july.”

A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “The safety and security of our customers and people is our absolute priority. We can confirm that a brief incident occurred in the restaurant yesterday afternoon involving two individuals – nobody was injured or first aid given.

“The correct process and course of action was followed by our employees, and the situation resulted in the police being called. The management team spoke to the customers and provided support to our people and we’d like to commend them for how they handled the incident.”