Luton man jailed for machete attack at Eid celebration

Police said Saqib attacked with such force that the machete blades were deformed as a result

A man who carried out a "ferocious" machete attack which left his victim needing his leg to be amputated has been jailed for 15 years.

Abdul Saqib, 22, his brother and uncle sparked a large-scale brawl with improvised weapons during Eid celebrations in Luton in July 2021.

Five people suffered serious stab wounds and head injuries.

Saqib was sentenced at Luton Crown Court for violent disorder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Disguised in balaclava

He and his brother Abdul Aqib, 25, and their 46-year-old uncle Abdul Jaman targeted a group of people in Bury Park.

The attack in Dunstable Road gave Luton a bad name, a councillor said at the time

Disguised in a balaclava, Saqib, of Claremont Road, Luton, armed himself with two 2ft (60.9cm) machetes and charged towards the group of celebrants.

He stabbed a man in his 20s in his thigh, severing a major artery.

Roads were closed in the aftermath of the fight

After causing catastrophic injuries to his first victim, Saqib then stabbed a second man in the back.

A few moments later he was confronted by another member of the public, who he stabbed in the chest and shoulder.

Throwing pallets

Police revealed Saqib used such force that the recovered knives were deformed as a result of the attack.

Aqib and Jaman, who received head injuries in the brawl, were captured in mobile phone footage throwing punches and wooden pallets at people.

Abdul Jaman - Saqib's uncle - is starting a 28-month prison sentence

Armed officers arrived shortly before 01:00 BST and put a tourniquet on the first victim before he was taken to hospital for an emergency amputation to save his life, police said.

Jaman, of Williton Road, Luton, was sentenced to 28 months in prison for one count of violent disorder.

Aqib, of Claremont Road, was given a 24-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a two-year supervision order.

All three had been found guilty of the charges in October, following a trial.

The court heard about the impact the attack had on the man who had his leg amputated.

In a statement he said: "For over two years, I've not been able to sleep. I wake up scared because I see people with knives in my dreams.

"This has changed my life forever and has affected me in so many ways. Even in my sleep I can't escape what has happened to me."

'Deplorable and unprovoked'

After the sentencing, Det Ch Insp Nick Gardner said Saqib's actions were "deplorable and unprovoked".

"There is nothing that could ever justify such violence on a day that is supposed be a celebration and coming together of communities.

"We hope the jail terms handed to these thugs act as a warning to anyone else in our community that the consequences of using a knife will be severe."