Urgent manhunt for thug who brandished two machetes outside school

An urgent manhunt is underway to find a baclava-clad thug who brandished two machetes outside a secondary school.

Police officers are urging anyone with information to come forward after the individual was spotted carrying two massive black knives near Holgate Academy in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.

Reportedly a teenager, pictures show the knifeman dressed all in black with workman trousers, a black hat and a scarf around his face.

A video showed him gesturing at two men who appeared to try and stop him.

One could be heard saying 'look at you' as the suspect walked off.

The woman filming shouted 'f*** off' before the man with the machetes turned around and yelled abuse at her.

Nottinghamshire Police are now carrying out extensive inquiries to identify the individual who was seen in Nabbs Lane at around 3.20pm on Friday, November 22.  

A spokesman for the Diverse Academies Trust, which runs the Holgate Academy, said the incident occurred outside of school hours on Friday and did not relate to the academy.

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Chief Inspector Chris Sutcliffe, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'While we believe this was an isolated incident, we are treating it seriously and doing everything we possibly can to identify and apprehend those involved.

'Officers would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have dashcam, CCTV, or mobile phone footage of what happened.

'While we are continuing with our inquiries, we have increased our police presence in the area and have liaised with a nearby school to provide reassurance to the community.'

Just two weeks ago, officers from Nottinghamshire Police arrested an 18-year-old after after a parcel from France containing a curved karambit knife was seized at the border.

It comes after the release of a joint report by school, police and probation inspectors which found that serious youth violence is widespread.

Figures show there has been a 'notable increase' in armed robberies involving knives over the last year.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that knife crime offences also increased year-on-year but remained below pre-pandemic levels.

Some 50,510 offences were recorded in the 12 months to March 2024. Attacks disproportionately affected young people, with teenagers in the UK now twice as likely to be fatally stabbed as they were 10 years ago.

Official statistics suggest knife crime has risen by four per cent in the last 12 months, but remains three per cent lower than the 51,982 offences reported in the year to March 2020.

Anyone with any information that might help identify the baclava-clad individual is asked to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident 454 of November 22, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555.