A police officer who bravely confronted attacker Marcus Monzo after the tragic killing of schoolboy Daniel Anjorin in Hainault, east London, says he doesn’t consider himself a hero.
Inspector Moloy Campbell faced Monzo directly during the April 2024 incident, sustaining a hand injury while attempting to disarm the suspect, who was wielding a samurai sword.
Despite his own injuries, Insp Campbell humbly credits his team for their bravery, saying, “My officers were undoubtedly heroic in their efforts to stop the attack.”
Reflecting on the confrontation, he told the BBC: “It was pure instinct — fight or flight — and in that moment, I chose to fight. The emotions came afterward, but there was no fear at the time.”
Inspector Moloy Campbell emphasized that fear didn’t play a major role during the tragic sword attack in Hainault, East London, in April 2024.
“And I don’t think there was much fear from anyone, actually,” he said. “As police officers, it’s our duty to take action — it’s something ingrained in us through training, and everyone performed exceptionally well.”
The violence unfolded early on the morning of 30 April 2024, around 6:45 AM. The attacker, Marcus Monzo, began his rampage by striking 33-year-old Donato Iwule with a van before pursuing him and inflicting a serious neck wound.
Tragically, Monzo then turned on 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, who was walking along the street wearing his school gym kit and headphones. Unaware of the danger, Daniel was fatally attacked with a 60cm (24-inch) samurai-style sword.
Monzo continued his spree by entering a nearby residence where a couple and their four-year-old daughter were sleeping.
The 37-year-old was found guilty of Daniel’s murder, along with attempted murder and wounding, and is scheduled to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday.
Inspector Campbell recalled the moment he responded to the unfolding situation. After learning that his colleague, PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield, had also been stabbed by Monzo, he felt a deep sense of resolve.
“The only thing on my mind,” he said, “was doing what needed to be done — disarming Monzo and protecting lives.”
Inspector Campbell described the intense confrontation he and fellow officers had with Marcus Monzo during the violent sword attack in Hainault. As Monzo was cornered near a row of garages, the situation escalated quickly.
“He was swinging at me, and I was striking back,” Campbell recalled. “At one point, my baton struck his sword mid-air. We collided — his blade grazed across my chest, cutting away part of my body-worn camera.”
Although Campbell attempted to land a hit, it wasn’t enough to stop Monzo. He noticed something chilling in the suspect’s expression: “He had this fierce determination in his eyes.”
The struggle continued. “We went at each other again. That’s when the blade came down my arm, slicing through my fleece and cutting into my hand.”
The injury was severe. “I looked down and could see the inside of my hand. My thumb was barely attached.”
Despite the injury, the officers remained focused. Monzo fled the scene, but didn’t get far. Officers quickly located him nearby. After deploying multiple Taser rounds, they successfully subdued and arrested him.
Monzo, a former delivery driver, had already been found guilty of multiple charges, including the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin. His sentencing is expected to take place at the Old Bailey.
During the trial, the courage shown by the officers responding to the Hainault sword attack was widely acknowledged. Inspector Moloy Campbell, who despite suffering a deep injury to his hand attempted to continue confronting the attacker, humbly dismissed any notion that he was a hero.
“I find the idea of calling oneself a hero distasteful,” he said. “I wouldn’t describe myself that way. But when it comes to my fellow officers — absolutely, I believe they were heroic.”
Inspector Campbell emphasized that his colleagues consistently demonstrate bravery in the line of duty, and that the events in Hainault were a tragic example of the selfless actions police officers are trained for and committed to every day.
“Our role is to protect the public, to prevent injury and loss of life,” he explained. “And I am willing to put my life on the line to fulfill that responsibility.”
Reflecting on the heartbreaking outcome of the attack, Campbell became visibly emotional only once — while recovering in the hospital, after learning that 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin had not survived his injuries. He paid tribute to Daniel’s family, expressing deep sympathy for their unimaginable loss.
Henry De Los Rios Polania, who bravely shielded his wife and their four-year-old daughter when Marcus Monzo broke into their bedroom during the terrifying attack, has spoken out about how the traumatic event has altered his life completely.
In an interview with the BBC, Mr. De Los Rios Polania recalled the chilling moments when Monzo confronted the family while they were asleep. He described how the attacker repeatedly questioned them about their belief in God. “At first, we both said yes,” he said. “But the second time, my wife answered no.”
That answer appeared to trigger Monzo’s violent intentions. “That’s when he grabbed the sword with both hands and tried to decapitate Carolina,” Mr. De Los Rios Polania explained. “In that instant, I realized I couldn’t let this happen. He was going to kill us right there. So I tried to grab the sword with my bare hands.”
In his courageous attempt to defend his family, he sustained serious injuries to his hands. Since the attack, he has undergone three surgeries and is expected to need at least two more.
The IT engineer shared that Marcus Monzo only ceased his attack when their four-year-old daughter began crying and calling out “mama” and “papa.”
“He stepped back, clearly surprised by the child’s presence in the room,” Mr. De Los Rios Polania recalled. “He then pointed the sword first at my daughter’s face, then at Carolina’s, and finally at me. He said, ‘I’m just going to let you live because of your little one.’”
Since the attack, Mr. De Los Rios Polania has been unable to return to work, focusing instead on his recovery. “All I can say is that I’m surviving,” he said.
While giving testimony in court, he admitted feeling afraid at the thought of facing Monzo again. However, he maintained his composure during the proceedings, noting that Monzo avoided making eye contact with him.
Though Mr. De Los Rios Polania’s courage in protecting his family was undeniable, he humbly believes that others deserve the title of hero far more.
“If people want to call me a hero because I protected my family, then that’s fine,” he said. “But the true heroes are the police officers and the NHS staff. They saved my life. Without them, I don’t think I’d be here today.”
Marcus Monzo, from Canning Town in east London, is awaiting sentencing for multiple charges, including the murder of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin; attempted murder of Sindy Carolina Arias, PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield, and Donato Iwule; wounding of Inspector Moloy Campbell and Mr. De Los Rios Polania; aggravated burglary; and two counts of possession of weapons.
