On a quiet Monday evening in Uxbridge, west London, a devastating act of violence shattered the calm of Midhurst Gardens and left a community reeling. Wayne Broadhurst, a 49-year-old local binman known for his daily dog walks and friendly demeanor, was killed in a triple stabbing that has drawn widespread shock and sorrow from neighbors, officials, and colleagues alike. The attack, which unfolded at approximately 5pm on October 27, 2025, also left a 45-year-old man with life-changing injuries and a 14-year-old boy wounded, though the teenager’s injuries were neither life-threatening nor life-changing, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Police have charged Safi Dawood, a 22-year-old Afghan national, with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and possession of an offensive weapon. Dawood, who entered the UK in 2020 via a lorry and was granted asylum in 2022, lived in Midhurst Gardens, the very street where the attack took place. According to the Crown Prosecution Service, Dawood was not known to Mr. Broadhurst, but he was acquainted with the other two victims. He was arrested at the scene after being Tasered by police, following what witnesses described as a chaotic and terrifying sequence of events.
Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London North, emphasized the seriousness of the incident, stating, “Following the shocking triple stabbing which took place in Uxbridge on Monday evening, the Crown Prosecution Service has today announced Safi Dawood, 22, has been charged with the murder of Wayne Broadhurst and the attempted murder of two others. Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings. We have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police Service as they carried out their investigation.”
The events of that Monday evening remain etched in the minds of local residents. Several witnesses recalled hearing screams and shouts, followed by scenes of panic and horror. A woman living in Midhurst Gardens told reporters she saw the incident unfold from her window after hearing the commotion. “I called my brother to come and have a look and then he called the police, and then whilst we were on the phone to police that’s when the dog walker came from the alleyway. He literally walked from the alleyway not knowing what he was about to walk into. As soon as he got in front of a house the man with the knife sort of pushed him over, literally in front of our house, and then got on top of him,” she recounted, her voice still tinged with disbelief.
Another neighbor described how a group of residents, armed with baseball bats, intervened to protect the 45-year-old victim. Tahira Hassan, who lives next to the scene, recalled, “The injured person was sitting in front of their house. They had bats. There were four or five people. They were protecting him, so they saved his life. They did a very good job. Maybe he would have died if they didn’t protect him.” The 45-year-old survivor, who remains in hospital, is said to have a wife, son, and daughter, and lives on Midhurst Gardens.
For many in the neighborhood, the loss of Wayne Broadhurst is deeply personal. Known for his routine dog walks and his work as a binman for Greener Ealing Ltd, Broadhurst was a familiar and well-liked figure. The managing director of Greener Ealing, Katarina Pohancenikova, paid tribute to him, stating, “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Wayne’s family, friends, and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. This is a devastating loss. Wayne was a well-respected and dedicated member of our team who made a real contribution to the work we do and to the residents we serve.” The company also shared a photograph of Broadhurst proudly wearing a Liverpool football club hat and his high-visibility work vest, a small reminder of the man behind the headlines.
The community’s grief was visible the following evening as around 100 people gathered near the police cordon at the junction of Midhurst Gardens and Leybourne Road. Flowers were laid, candles lit, and messages of sympathy left at the scene. One note read, “The community is devastated. Rest in peace #hillingdon says no,” while another simply stated, “Sending my deepest sympathy. So sorry for your loss. Thinking of you and the community.”
As police and forensic teams continued their work, Chief Superintendent Jill Horsfall addressed the public’s concern: “This was a shocking and senseless act of violence that has left one man dead and two others injured. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time. The incident will have understandably caused concern to the local community. I have deployed multiple officers to the local area, they will be here throughout the week to provide reassurance while detectives work intensely to piece together the circumstances.” She also urged residents not to speculate or share sensitive footage of the incident online, warning that such actions could impede court proceedings and cause further distress to those affected.
Footage circulating online appeared to show the suspect walking down the residential street before two police officers chased after him, one pointing a Taser and shouting, “drop the knife” and “get on the floor.” The Met Police later confirmed that the attack is not being treated as terrorism, and detectives are working to establish the precise relationships between Dawood and the victims. The force also clarified that Dawood was living in a private residential address, not in asylum accommodation or a Home Office facility.
After his arrest, Dawood reportedly suffered a medical episode in custody and was taken to hospital as a precaution before being returned to police custody. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, October 30, 2025. The Crown Prosecution Service and Metropolitan Police have both stressed the importance of respecting the privacy of those affected and allowing the judicial process to proceed without interference.
The London Ambulance Service described the swift and comprehensive emergency response. “We were called at 4.42pm on Monday 27 October to reports of a stabbing on Midhurst Gardens, Uxbridge. We sent resources, including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer and paramedics in fast response cars. We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London’s Air Ambulance, which consisted of a doctor and a paramedic in a car. We treated three people at the scene in total. We took one patient to a major trauma centre but sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a patient was pronounced dead at the scene. We assessed a third person before discharging them at the scene.”
As the investigation continues, the community of Uxbridge is left to mourn Wayne Broadhurst and support those whose lives have been forever altered. The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of solidarity, but also a renewed call for calm, compassion, and respect for the ongoing legal process. In the words of one neighbor, “If he was five or 10 minutes later taking the dog out would the same thing have happened?” For now, the questions linger, and the community waits for answers—and justice.
