Man hacks off penis in eatery

2007-04-24 13:44

London - A man stormed into a London restaurant and hacked off his own penis in front of horrified diners, said the Italian eatery on Tuesday.

The man charged into a branch of a pizza and pasta chain Zizzi in a tourist area of central London on Sunday.

"This guy came running in then charged into the kitchen, got a massive knife and started waving it about," diner Stuart McMahon told The Sun newspaper.

"Everyone was screaming and running out as he jumped on a table, dropped his trousers and popped his penis out.

"Then he cut it off. I couldn't believe it."

Police said a man aged 30-40 was injured through self-inflicted wounds.

He was taken to a south London hospital.

'Extremely frightening'

Zizzi said the knife-wielder was thought to have no connection to the restaurant.

Staff stopped him entering one kitchen, then he ran into a second kitchen area, the chain said in a statement.

"The man then picked up a kitchen knife and slashed himself across the wrist and groin areas before running back into the restaurant, where he continued to stab himself.

"This happened in a matter of seconds and was obviously extremely frightening and distressing for the many customers and staff in the restaurant at the time.

"The police arrived in a matter of minutes and took the man away.

"Apart from the man, we understand that no-one else suffered any physical injuries."

The man was described as being in a stable condition in hospital on Tuesday.

- AFP