Libyan migrant, 24, who arrived in Britain by small boat is arrested after three people injured in knife attack

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

A migrant who arrived in Britain by small boat has been arrested after three people were injured in a knife attack in Eastbourne.
Khalifa Eissa Benyzeed, 24, originally from Libya, is being held by police on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm after one man suffered a 'potentially life-threatening' stab wound to his chest - and two more were slashed across the face.
Benyzeed and his brother Ahmed, 20, arrived in the UK by small boat in October 2022 and have since both been granted leave to remain.
Today, Ahmed claimed his older brother had acted in self-defence as he was attacked by the three men in busy Seaside Road, just back from the seafront.
He told the Daily Mail: 'I was not there when it happened but from what people have told me, the three men chased after my brother, and they attacked him in the street.
'There was a fight. And then the police came, and my brother was taken away. I don't know what the fight was about. But this is a dangerous area.'
Terrified tourists were forced to flee restaurants and cafes as the vicious fight erupted in bloodshed. Blood stains remain on a door of a property next to where the knife-fight took place.
Griseldi Harhicaj, 28, owner of the Kostas Greek Souvlaki house, told how he was forced to close his restaurant when the violence erupted.
He said: 'My restaurant was full of people when this fight started outside. There was shouting and screaming and then there was blood everywhere. I had to get the customers out of my restaurant for their safety.
'The police came, and I had to close the restaurant. It was terrible. Eastbourne used to be a nice place, but now it is terrible.'
Police officers in an unmarked squad car were today stationed by the scene of the crime.
The Benyzeed brothers fled Tripoli after three of their brothers were killed by members of armed militias that now control much of the war-torn country.
Ahmed explained: 'Libya is too dangerous. Three of my brothers have been killed by militia. This is why we had to leave.'
The pair are understood to have travelled separately to Europe – first to Malta and then to the continent – before meeting up in France where they caught a small boat to Britain.
Ahmed continued: 'We came to England in a small boat. We arrived in England on 9th October 2022.
'We have been here for two years and ten months. We applied for asylum, and we have both been granted with 'leave to remain'.
'I want to work hard and make a life here in England.
'Libya is too dangerous. Militia control the streets and kidnap young men and make them join them. If you refuse to join them, they kill you.
'Life was better in Libya when Gaddafi was in power.'
Sussex Police today confirmed that a 24-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.
In a statement a spokesman said: 'Police attended a report of a man having been stabbed following a fight in Seaside Road, Eastbourne, on Thursday (14 August) at about 8.20pm.
'A man was found with potential life-threatening injuries and two other men had also sustained minor stab wounds. All three were taken to hospital.
'A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of committing grievous bodily harm and taken to custody.
'Enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances, and we have an increased police presence in the area.
'Anyone who saw the incident or has an information which could help our investigation is asked to report online or phone 101 quoting Operation Benton.'