Knife terror on London bus

It was a routine Monday morning bus journey - until this well-built youth headed towards the rear seats, his outstretched hand gripping a knife.

His target was the mobile phone owned by another passenger, and to get it the attacker repeatedly stabbed his victim, inflicting terrible injuries. A woman sitting just a couple of feet away was clearly terrified by the horror unfolding in front of her but was trapped.

She ended up cowering in the corner of the No 133 bus to save herself from the knifeman.

Other passengers were able to flee from the top deck, their screams alerting the driver.

He stopped the vehicle, called help and the victim was taken to hospital. But the attacker escaped and is still on the loose.

The 21-year-old victim's ordeal - captured on CCTV cameras - left him with deep wounds to his neck and head from the 5in knife.

One scar on his neck is 4in long and the tendons on his left hand were severed.

Detective Sergeant John Freeman said the attack in Kennington, South London, was 'ferocious and vicious'.

He added: 'The victim was very lucky not to have died. This could have been a murder investigation.

'This was an extremely violent attack with a large knife which resulted in injuries which could have cost this man his life.

'The victim said his attacker was trying to steal his phone and that he had never met him before so it looks like the motive was robbery.

'But it is very unusual to have a daylight robbery on a packed bus.'

Police need witnesses to the attack at 11.50am on February 7 in Kennington Park Road. Detective Sergeant Freeman added: 'From the CCTV images, you can see there were a number of people on board but everyone decamped sharpish after the attack.

'It would have been very frightening for everyone on board.

'No one has come forward but we are appealing for any witness.'

The attacker was described as black, in his late teens, wearing a dark blue anorak, dark trousers and a beenie hat.