I remember taking on a gang of about 6 teenagers - I guess 17 years old - who had chased down and stabbed a lad in Piccadilly Gardens on a Saturday lunchtime when it was absolutely rammed with shoppers. I was absolutely bricking it but I knew if they'd stabbed him again he would in all likelihood be a goner and these lads were fired up. A crowd formed a big circle around us and my missus was screaming her head off. Fortunately a couple of squaddies decided to back me up and the lads ran off.
I noted that two community policemen had stood and watched along with the rest of the crowd which contained a fair share of hefty blokes who did nothing. One of the squaddies asked the crowd if anyone had phoned for an ambulance - and nobody had despite the lad lying in a pool of blood for at least a couple of minutes.
When the paramedics and police arrived I wasn't even asked for a statement and it all ended a bit weirdly. I thanked the squaddies for backing me up and walked off with missus. It just felt surreal.
I just wonder if people watch too much TV and can no longer differentiate between entertainment and reality.
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