London man stabbed shopper with kitchen knife taken off supermarket shelves

The 39-year-old had been experiencing psychosis at the time of the random attack

A London man repeatedly stabbed a supermarket shopper then assaulted an ambulance worker in a random attack. Thomas Suliman was experiencing psychosis when he carried out the rampage in Clacton, Essex, on July 29, 2025.

The 39-year-old began behaving erratically inside a busy shop at Brook Retail Park before taking a kitchen knife from the shelves and removing it from the packaging. He then chased and attacked a member of the public, plunging the weapon into the man’s thigh and abdomen.

The bleeding shopper managed to flee as store staff and shoppers evacuated the premises and dialled 999. He was later taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The first responding officer, PC Jamie Welsh, arrived within minutes and confronted an armed Suliman, who now had significant self-inflicted injuries. PC Welsh tasered the knifeman and restrained him on the floor until backup arrived.

However, while receiving treatment following his arrest, Suliman lashed out and struck an ambulance worker across the face. He later pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, as well as wounding without intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possessing a knife in a public place, and affray.

Suliman, of Foscote Mews, in Maida Vale, was sentenced to 25 months in prison at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, July 17.

Chief Inspector Stuart Austin, Tendring district commander at Essex Police, said: “This was an extremely serious incident which unfolded in a busy supermarket in broad daylight and left an innocent member of the public injured. Staff and members of the public acted quickly to protect shoppers and our thoughts remain with everyone who experienced what would have been a frightening ordeal.”

He added: “Officers regularly face fast-moving and unpredictable situations where they must make critical decisions in a matter of seconds. It is rare to see an incident of this nature in Essex and I hope the public feel reassured that we are ready to respond whenever we are needed.”

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