Hainault Samurai Sword Killer: Police Officer Who Faced Attacker Says He’s ‘No Hero’

The police inspector who confronted Marcus Monzo — the man who murdered 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin with a samurai sword in Hainault, east London — says he doesn’t see himself as a hero.

Inspector Moloy Campbell engaged Monzo directly, suffering a slash to his hand as he tried to disarm the attacker. Despite his injuries, Campbell praised his fellow officers, calling their actions “undoubtedly heroic” for stopping the rampage.

Speaking to the BBC, Campbell recalled the harrowing events of April 30, 2024.

“It’s instinct — fight or flight. In that moment, it was fight,” he said. “There was emotion after it was over, but there was no fear. And I don’t think there was much fear from anyone else either. They’re police officers — taking action is drilled into them. They did it well.”

Monzo’s violent spree began just before 7 a.m. when he rammed a van into 33-year-old Donato Iwule before chasing him down and slashing his neck. Moments later, Monzo fatally attacked Daniel Anjorin, who was walking to school in his PE kit, unaware of the threat behind him.

The attacker then forced his way into a nearby home where a couple and their four-year-old daughter were sleeping.

Monzo, 37, was found guilty of Daniel’s murder, attempted murder, and multiple counts of wounding. He faces sentencing at the Old Bailey on Friday.

Inspector Campbell said his only focus that morning — especially after hearing that his colleague, PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield, had been stabbed — was to stop Monzo.

“The only feeling I had was the need to get it done — disarm him and protect lives.”

Campbell and his team confronted Monzo near a block of garages.

“He was slashing at me, I was hitting him. My baton struck his sword mid-air. At one point, his blade went across my chest, sliced off part of my body camera, and then we clashed again. That’s when his sword came down my arm — it cut through my fleece and nicked my hand. When I looked down, I could see inside my hand. My thumb was hanging.”

Despite being wounded, Monzo fled but was caught soon after. Officers used multiple Tasers before arresting him.

Monzo, of Canning Town, east London, will be sentenced for the murder of Daniel Anjorin, the attempted murder of Sindy Carolina Arias, PC Mechem-Whitfield, and Donato Iwule, the wounding of Inspector Campbell and Mr. De Los Rios Polania, aggravated burglary, and weapons offences.