Man arrested after diner stabbed with fork at The Copperfield restaurant in Shorne
The chemical and
fork attack happened at The Copperfield in Shorne
A man has been arrested
after chemicals were thrown in a pub diner's face -
before he was stabbed in the back with a fork.
The 25-year-old,
from Strood, is being held on suspicion of
causing grievous bodily harm at The Copperfield, in
Shorne, near Gravesend, yesterday.
The alleged victim, a 26-year-old
man from Gravesend, remains seriously ill in intensive care.
Kent Police said he was targeted
when he refused to go outside and fight a man as he ate a meal with
his girlfriend.
It is alleged the attacker
sprayed a household substance - believed to be used for
cleaning - in his face that caused burning and problems with
breathing... before stabbing him in the back with a fork.
The victim suffered swollen airways,
leaving him choking for air, as well as burns to his face and
eyes.
He was also left with stab wounds to
his back and was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital.
He remains in an intensive
treatment unit today, although he is stable and his injuries
are not considered life-threatening. 
Police at The
Copperfields after the attack on Sunday
Detectives do not believe it was a
random attack.
Shocked diners today spoke of their
horror at witnessing the attack, which happened at the pub
- popular for its Sunday carvery - at about 5.30pm
yesterday.
One diner, who tended to the man
following the attack, said the attacker pulled a squeezy bottle
from his pocket before spraying it in the man's face.
She said: "The restaurant was
absolutely ram-packed with people, families and children.
"People didn't know what was
happening. They thought it was just a random attack.
"I think there was a bit of a
kerfuffle and during that the guy was stabbed with a fork.
"We'd taken his top off because we
didn't know what had been thrown at him and could see where the
fork had gone in.
“He was choking and throwing up and
his throat started to swell up because he'd swallowed some of
it.
"It had splashed off him and hit other
people. One woman was screaming 'it's hit my baby, it's hit my
baby'.
"He threw it all over his face, it was in his mouth and there was just sheer panic. People didn't know what was happening..." – witness to pub attack
"The police came and the ambulance and
the fire brigade and everyone had to stay while the police took
statements.
"The first aider wasn't on hand so I
tried to help him. but we didn't know what it was. I don't know how
long it took for the ambulance to arrive, probably about 10 minutes
but it seemed to take forever."
Kent Police said officers were called
to the pub by ambulance staff at just after 6pm.
DI Ivan Beasley said: "This was not a
random attack as we believe the victim and suspect are known to
each other.
"We also believe the liquid substance
used was a household substance used for cleaning.
Witnesses or anyone with information
is urged to phone Kent Police on 101, quoting reference
XY/033496/12, or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555
111.
05/11/12
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