05-08-2025
Apprentice star intervenes as 'knifeman' goes on rampage and 'slashes three people in Aldi car park' - as police charge man with attempted murder
Three people were stabbed in an alleged knife rampage outside Aldi before a martial artist who starred on The Apprentice stepped in to help.
Sohail Chowdhary, who starred on the hit BBC one show in 2022, claims he raced to intervene when the incident took place outside his gym on Sunday, August 3.
The businessman, along with a colleague and two students, rushed from Limitless Martial Arts school in Southampton after hearing a commotion outside at around 12.45pm.
The former reality star claims he helped distract the suspected knifeman by leading him in circles while passers-by fled to safety.
Meanwhile one of the students, Mohamed Kamal, also stepped in by ushering members of the public into the nearby Aldi store while waiting for police to arrive.
Hampshire Police says it was called to Empress Road at 12.48pm after reports a man was threatening people with a knife.
On arrival officers arrested Azzedvie Mahmoud, from Southampton, in connection with the incident, which left three people hurt with non-serious injuries.
The 46-year-old has now been charged with three counts of attempted murder, as well as one of attempted GBH, three of threatening a person with a blade or sharply pointed article in a public place, and one of possessing a blade or sharp pointed article in a public place.
He has been remanded to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, August 5.
Mr Chowdhary told The Daily Echo he was 'proud' of his colleague and students who rushed to help.
'I am just proud of these guys' he said.
'I wasn't expecting that on a Sunday morning. It could have been a lot worse.'
In a statement released today, Hampshire Police confirmed one man had been charged in connection with the incident.
It said: 'Officers investigating a serious assault in the Bevois area of Southampton have today charged a man.
'Police were called just after 12.45pm on Sunday, August 3, to a report that a number of people had been threatened and two had suffered injuries outside a store in Bevois Valley Road.
'Azzedvie Mahmoudi, 46, of Cobbett Road, Southampton, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder, one of attempted GBH, three of threatening a person with a blade or sharply pointed article in a public place, and one of possessing a blade or sharp pointed article in a public place.
'He has been remanded to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court this morning (August 5).
