A former Russian policeman has been revealed as the "hero" who tackled a boy wielding a knife at the Notting Hill Carnival following a stabbing at the event.
Valentine Simatchenko managed to stick his leg out while precariously balancing his shopping to stop the boy running away as he ran past with a bloodied knife on Monday evening.
His intervention came after Rio Andre, a 20-year-old student, was stabbed on Ladbroke Grove, on the last day of the carnival.
Though there were several policemen nearby, 55-year-old Simatchenko was the first person to react.
"I just acted instinctively. I was annoyed he got away but am pleased to hear the police have been making arrests. I know how hard life can be, but there is never any excuse for violence".
Mr Simatchenko came to Britain as an asylum seeker in 1996 after fleeing the Chechen war. He was born in the Ukraine but later moved to St Petersburg, where he worked as a policeman for around five years.
Scotland Yard said a 16-year-old has appeared at West London Youth Court accused of grievous bodily harm with intent. Andre is in a serious but stable condition.