Teenager blinded in one eye in 'Rambo' machete attack on north London train

A teenager has been left blind in one eye after being the victim of a violent gang attack with machetes on a train in north London.

The 18-year-old was ambushed by three teenagers on a train carriage last September, suffering injuries to his head, shoulder and hand and losing his left eye.

Jaheim Smith-Williams and Gabriel Burke-Georgiou, both aged 18, were both sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for the attack, while a 15-year-old boy was sentenced to five years and one months in prison.

British Transport Police said the victim and his attackers belonged to rival gangs, which was behind the brutal attack.

The 18-year-old victim was targeted as the northbound train left Northumberland Park station in Tottenham at around 7pm on September 24 last year.

Burke-Georgiou, then 17, launched the attack before Smith-Williams pulled out a Rambo-style knife, lunging at the victim at least three times.

The shocked train passengers tried to flee the carriage, initially blocking attempts by the youngest boy – then aged 14 – to join the attack.

The boy eventually pushed his way through the crowd to join the assault, pulling out a machete he was carrying.

The victim was stabbed multiple times as he backed into the carriage, falling to the ground with his hand over his left eye.

The attackers fled at Meridian Water station, stealing the victim's electric scooter and leaving the knives nearby, while the injured teenager also left the train and collapsed outside a nearby supermarket.

“This was a premeditated and brutal attack on a busy train which left the victim with life-changing injuries,” said British Transport Police Detective Constable Nick Barr.

“This was incredibly distressing for the passenger witnesses and I would like to thank these witnesses for assisting our investigation and bringing those responsible to justice.”

Smith-Williams, from Spitalfields in east London, Burke-Georgiou, from Tottenham, and the 15-year-old from north London all admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

They were sentenced at the Old Bailey on April 9.

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