Morrisons customers and employees were evacuated after a man wielding a knife caused chaos in the store. Milad Panjshiri, 22, armed with a six-inch blade, barged into the supermarket in West Yorkshire’s Bradford and proceeded to vandalize the aisles by throwing wine bottles onto the floor, leaving a trail of shattered glass behind. During the incident, he even threatened a female staff member with the knife, prompting the evacuation of numerous shoppers, including elderly individuals, for their safety.
Panjshiri’s violent outburst on December 5 last year involved stabbing cans with the knife and toppling shelves filled with wine bottles, as revealed in Bradford Crown Court. The court sentenced him to 18 months in prison, with the possibility of serving only 40% of the term. Witnesses recounted seeing him tapping the knife on his leg before menacingly approaching the female employee.
Reports of the knife-wielding man causing damage inside the supermarket led to a police response just before 11 am. Panjshiri was apprehended by officers, and the weapon was recovered. Refusing to attend his sentencing, Panjshiri, residing in Deneside Terrace, Bradford, West Yorkshire, had his mental health issues highlighted as a contributing factor to his actions during the court proceedings.
The presiding judge, Recorder Tony Watkin, described the incident as deeply troubling, emphasizing the severity of brandishing a knife in a public space. Concerns raised by prison staff about Panjshiri’s behavior while in custody were also noted. Watkin indicated that Panjshiri might only serve a portion of his sentence and raised the possibility of his release based on his immigration status, which was beyond the court’s knowledge.
