She Had a Weird Look in Her Eyes: Barber Runs at Covent Garden Stabbing Attacker

A bleeding man stumbled into a Covent Garden barbershop and said one thing: he'd just been stabbed. Seconds later, the barber inside was running straight down the street toward the woman still holding the weapon.

That's the scene that unfolded in central London on Wednesday, August 5, and it's now being held up as an 'Everyday Hero' moment by U.S. outlets covering the U.K. story.

What Happened

Police were called to reports of a stabbing on Endell Street in Covent Garden, a busy tourist area in central London, at around 12:27hrs on Wednesday, 5 August, with officers responding alongside the London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance. Four men, aged 34, 39, 42 and 56, were treated for stab wounds; all have since been discharged from hospital.

Witnesses described a chaotic, fast-moving scene. Arjan Gjorga, who manages a nearby fish and chip shop, told the Press Association 'she just started stabbing random people.'

A barber working in the area said he didn't hesitate once he saw a victim up close. The barber said he confronted the attacker after one of the victims came into his shop with blood on his shirt, saying he had been stabbed. He wasn't alone — he told The Sun: 'We all came rushing out of our shops to help.' He described closing the distance himself: 'I ran towards her down the street and she stopped and looked at me holding the scissors.' 'She had a weird look in her eyes,' he said.

Police arrived within minutes. Officers arrested a 47-year-old woman at the scene shortly after responding to the call. One witness told Euronews she saw the suspect get tasered by officers before she dropped the weapon.

On Thursday, police confirmed the suspect's identity and the charges. The Metropolitan Police said Stella Gollovena, 47, of no fixed address, was charged with four counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. She has been remanded in custody to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court.

Investigators have not tied the attack to terrorism. The Metropolitan Police said early indications suggest it was a mental health-related incident, and that scissors were recovered at the scene.

A note on accuracy: U.S. coverage citing Metro UK has framed this as a barber 'tackling' the attacker. The barber's own firsthand account, given directly to The Sun, describes running toward her and having her stop and stare at him — not a physical takedown. We're reporting what's actually confirmed: he closed the gap on an active, armed attacker with civilians still bleeding nearby, and police made the arrest shortly after.

Why It Matters

This wasn't a barber wading into a fight in his own shop — it was a barber and several other shopkeepers pouring into the street toward an active, weapon-wielding stranger, with zero information about what she'd do next. That's the kind of split-second call that separates a bystander from a first responder, and it's why this story is resonating well beyond London.

Industry Impact

Barbershops sit at street level in dense commercial corridors — exactly the kind of location where a bleeding stranger might stumble in looking for the nearest open door. Whether it's Covent Garden, a strip mall, or a downtown block, barbers are often the first adults on the scene of a public emergency simply because their shop is open, visible, and staffed. This incident is a reminder that shop owners should think through that reality before it happens, not during it.

Lessons for Barbers and Shop Owners

• Treat the injured person first. A bleeding client or stranger in your chair is your immediate priority — stop the bleeding, call emergency services, and keep them calm before anyone considers confronting an attacker still at large.
• Know your shop's exposure. If your storefront opens onto a busy sidewalk, walk through what you'd actually do if someone burst in injured: who calls 911, who renders aid, who locks the door.
• Group response beats solo heroics. In this case, multiple shopkeepers moved together toward the threat rather than one person alone — that mattered for everyone's safety, including the barber's.
• Let trained responders handle the weapon. Police ultimately used a Taser to get the suspect to drop what she was holding. Civilians should prioritize creating distance, containing the scene, and guiding others to safety rather than attempting to physically disarm an armed person.
• Keep a basic trauma kit on hand. Gauze, a tourniquet, and gloves cost little and can matter enormously in the minutes before EMS arrives.

Related Reading

For barbers wanting to think through shop-level emergency protocols, look into basic 'Stop the Bleed'-style trauma courses, often taught free through local fire departments or hospitals, and review your shop's line-of-sight and door-lock setup with your landlord or security provider.

*This story is developing. Your Barber Connect will update if U.K. authorities release further details ahead of Gollovena's court appearance.*