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Hero bystander saves Derby cabbie from meat cleaver swinging maniac

Michael Murphy

A brave passerby tackled an angry cab user to the ground and held him until police arrived, after he was trying to attack a man during an argument over a cab fare.

Father-of-one Usman Najeeb wrestled the crazed attacker to the pavement while onlookers watched in fear. The incident took place in Normanton, Derby, at around 5.30pm on Sunday 7 July.

The terrifying encounter was caught on camera and shows the heavy-set suspect repeatedly lashing out with the cleaver and a kitchen knife in the direction of the cab driver.

Najeeb made the decision to not stand by and watch, but to instead risk his own life to tackle the manic knifeman and hold him under a citizen's arrest until police arrived. The dramatic footage shows the victim backing off when the attacker lunges at him. The driver fights back with what appears to be a bat and forces the knife wielding man onto the back foot. Hero, Mr Najeeb, rushes in with a rugby style tackle and wrestles the thug to the ground and then, assisted by others, stops the attacker from escaping. As reported in the Daily Mail, Mr Najeeb, 29, said he was 'biding his time and waiting for the right moment' before intervening. One witness to the horrifying event had to lock his daughter inside his car to protect her after the suspect smashed one of his rear lights. Derbyshire Constabulary said: 'We understand people may have been alarmed by the incident but we would like to reassure members of the public that we believe it to be an isolated one. 'Anyone who has concerns and wants to talk to an officer will see the safer neighbourhood team on patrol in the area and we would encourage people to come up and talk to us. 'Similarly we would also like to speak to any witnesses to the incident who have not yet come forward.'

The suspect was arrested and is in custody.

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