UK Decay

[werewolf]

Life in Luton, UK: triple stabbing horror!

Moday June 11th 2007

The peace here at Aldwyck towers was shattered this morning as the
constant clatter of choppers eventually drew this bleary eyed scribe to
the window.
Expecting to see the usual police helicopter, it was surprising to see a
bright blue chopper instead. We had not yet heard the news of the
multiple stabbing that had occurred at 7am, as it turned out a mere 100
metres away. The ‘bins’ were fished out and under scrutiny, the BBC
News logo was plainly to be seen on the side of the chopper. A moment
later the beeb website revealed the days breaking story of the fatal
stabbing of PC Jonathan Henry and the attack on two others that were
in a “serious but stable condition”.

Luton’s apparent reputation of a violent city in the view of many Brits
took a turn for the worst as the sound mantra’s of ‘Triple stabbing’ and
‘Luton’ were heralded across the UK media. What was shocking was that
this incident did not happen at night and neither did it happen in the
town’s dimly lit un-cctv’ed back streets. It occurred at 7am between
Marks and Spenser and the Nationwide in broad daylight in the super
cctv’ed up pedestrianised high street, overlooked by the iconic Luton
Town hall.
The sun had been up for more than 2 hours and folk were busily
heading to work at the start of a new week. Newsagents were already
open and other premises were preparing to open their doors, at that
time of the day, many have their windows cleaned.
Without getting into too many of the details…you have all read the
national press haven’t you? Some knife-wielding maniac started on a
window cleaner and then turned on a passer by who tried to help, finally
he turned on PC Henry who he then stabbed to death. The police then
used a baton round and Taser electric stun gun to restrain the knifeman.
The other two victims are in intensive care at the Luton and Dunstable
hospital.
Most of the centre is cordoned of, as forensics comb the area for
evidence.
The Town hall square is occupied by the media circus, which is camped
up on the other side from us here at Aldwyck towers.

It has been fascinating watching live news on TV with reporters at the
scene, then looking out of the windows here and seeing the reporters
and cameramen taking the shoot.

Believe! There are maniacs abroad in Luton as it is I presume, just
about anywhere else. I have had experience of them personally.
Someone has to deal with them when they kick off and I do not envy
for one minute, those whose job it is to tackle such nutter’s. Our
condolences go out to PC Jon Henry’s family and friends, and best
wishes for a speedy recovery to the window cleaner and passer-by.


Meanwhile nearby, another ‘jumper’ fell to their death from one of the
Arndale multi-storey car parks. There may be a couple of lines about it
in this weeks Luton news I suppose….kind of like Luton’s answer to the
‘Cat stuck up a tree’ stories that inhabit the usual provincial rags.
The car parks have become a local ‘mecca’ for those with a
self-destructive tendency and the numbers are rising. I have heard of
three in the last month, although the one this scribe witnessed at the
back of the Library theatre sitting 25 metres, atop the roof of a stairwell,
legs dangling over the abyss two Friday nights ago was eventually
persuaded down.
I suspect that the numbers of ‘jumpers’ would shock most if they were
reported accurately …as if the fathers of Luton would want or allow this.
Anyway, we got some shots from our window and from a walk around
the block, for those ex-pat Lutonian’s who may miss home.


The media circus overlooked by Luton's statue of Liberty (or Bodecca?)
early in the day.


The 4 cones, mark the baton round


The flowers on the memorial of Luton's fallen heroes


The beeb news chopper (as opposed to the local bil chopper!)


Lutonian's fumbling around the media circus


All hail Bodecca!, these vans were bristling with technology and seemed
to house, men with rather large waistlines fiddling with equipment and
scoffing large plates of sandwiches.


Upods?


Area still cordoned of in the evening.

All pics by werewolf


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[Baby Ray]

Jeez, that guy must have been a complete lunatic if it took a baton round and a taser to stop him. Probably time to vacate the Towers and move to country I reckon, Werewolf.