A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a knife attack outside an Aldi supermarket in Bevois Valley, Southampton this afternoon, which left three people injured.

Police were called at 12:48pm to reports of a man threatening people with a knife in the Aldi car park on Empress Road. Officers, alongside paramedics, attended the scene and cordoned off the supermarket and car park, which remain closed as forensic investigations continue.

A man in his 40s, from the Bitterne area of Southampton, was detained by police at the scene and remains in custody.

Martial Arts Coaches and Teen Students Step In

Among the first to respond were members of Limitless Martial Arts, located opposite the Aldi. Business owner and The Apprentice star Sohail Chowdhary, along with his boxing coach Viktor Kumchev and students Mohamed Kamal and Jamie, bravely distracted the attacker and helped guide bystanders to safety.

"We saw the knife and thought, what the heck. We weren't going to risk it with the amount of blood on that knife," said Sohail, who helped divert the attacker's attention away from terrified shoppers.

16-year-old Mohamed Kamal, a student at Limitless, had only been training for a week but played a vital role in helping Mr Chowdhary and others lead the attacker in circles around the car park, buying time until police arrived.

Eyewitnesses Describe Terror

NHS health worker Cécile Block, 48, described her narrow %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_1%%:

“He was really close to me with a large knife in his hand. I thought I was going to get stabbed. Thankfully, a gentleman started shouting at him and threw something, allowing me to get away.”

Michael Evans, 36, a homeless support worker, recounted how the assailant lunged at him with an 8-10 inch knife, narrowly missing his chest:

"It was fight or flight. I saw families getting out of cars and shouted for them to get back inside."

Police Statement: No Wider Risk

%%UKNIP_ANCHOR_2%% has launched Operation Envelop, a full investigation into the attack. Officers confirmed:

"We do not believe there is any wider risk to the community. Officers will remain in the area to carry out enquiries."

Police are appealing for witnesses, especially those with CCTV, dashcam, or phone footage, to assist with the investigation. Information can be provided by calling 101 quoting 44250348108, or through their public portal link.

Community Pride

In a statement, Sohail Chowdhary praised his team:

"I couldn't be more proud of our team. They didn't just represent the discipline and courage we teach — they lived it. The most important thing is that everyone is safe."

Scene Remains Cordoned Off

The Aldi supermarket and its car park remain closed, with forensic teams placing evidence cones and photographing the scene. A large police presence continues in the Bevois Valley area.