A man armed with a samurai sword went on a violent rampage in London, resulting in the murder of a young boy on his way to school and injuring five others. Marcus Arduini Monzo was sentenced to life in prison for his actions. The boy’s father, Dr. Ebenezer Anjorin, expressed the profound pain of losing his son in such a cruel manner during the sentencing at the Central Criminal Court. Monzo, 37, was found guilty of murder, attempted murder, wounding, burglary, and possession of a weapon.
The horrific incident unfolded on the streets of east London as people were starting their day. Monzo drove his van into a pedestrian, launching a 20-minute attack with the sword that ended when police subdued him with a stun gun. Justice Joel Bennathan described the scene as peaceful and busy before Monzo’s violent outburst.
Monzo’s drug use triggered the violent episode, leading to the murder of his cat and the belief that Armageddon was imminent. He targeted innocent individuals, including the young boy who was fatally attacked while walking to school. Monzo also injured a security guard and a family in their own home during the rampage.
Despite Monzo’s claims of a spiritual quest and substance use, jurors held him accountable for his actions. The court highlighted the devastating impact of Monzo’s actions on the victims and their families.
Prosecutors stated that Monzo exhibited an interest in violence, far-right extremism, and conspiracy theories. He shared vaccine misinformation and showed support for social media posts praising Adolf Hitler. During the trial, Monzo claimed to believe in a flat Earth and considered the 9/11 attack to be “probably” a conspiracy. Additionally, he discussed his unconventional practice of consuming his own urine.
