A property developer and his son were stabbed to death in a knife rampage at his family-run firm’s office, a devastated colleague revealed today.
Terry McMillan, 58, and his son Brendan, 27, were named locally as the men killed in a quadruple stabbing near London Bridge station yesterday afternoon.
Another man in his 30s is recovering in hospital, as is the 31–year-old suspect, believed to be a British citizen, who is under police guard after being arrested on suspicion of murder.
Terry and his son were attacked in the office of The Trademark Group, their property development and investment company based at 197 Long Lane in Bermondsey, south London, which reportedly ran hundreds of units dedicated to social housing and student accommodation.
The killer was seen on CCTV fleeing the building at 12.58pm yesterday – four minutes before police arrived.
Terry was pronounced dead at the scene while University of Gloucestershire graduate Brendan, said to have been privately educated, was taken to hospital where he later passed away despite the best efforts of medics.
Rosemary George, 59, who worked as a cleaner for The Trademark Group, visited the scene today and said: ‘It’s very sad. Terry was a good boss, a fair man. If you needed anything you could go to him.
‘Bren did a physical education degree at Uni and went to America to play rugby. He was really into sport and very fit.
Brendan McMillan (pictured) has been named locally as one of the victims killed in a quadruple stabbing yesterday
Colleagues revealed Brendan (pictured), who was stabbed to death alongside his father, was a keen sportsman and played rugby
CCTV shows the suspected attacker (left) fleeing down the side road past the white van
Police have launched a murder probe after the knife rampage on Monday. Pictured: A forensic tent at the scene
‘There are usually eight or nine people who work in the office, it’s not very big.’
The chilling moment the knifeman fled the office immediately after the stabbings was caught on CCTV from a nearby flat.
The suspect is seen emerging from the building and sprints away to his left past a parked car.
The resident who captured the footage told the Daily Mail: ‘It was a targeted attack.
‘I caught the same man on camera walking calmly down the street a few minutes before the stabbings.
‘From the footage you can see him run from the archway of the building in front of my block of flats.
‘He turns left and is in a mad hurry to get away. This was at 12.58pm yesterday afternoon.
‘The police arrive just after 1.02pm. First in a squad car and then an unmarked car.
Brendan (pictured) was named locally as one of two men killed in a quadruple stabbing near London Bridge station on Monday
The University of Gloucestershire graduate (pictured) was taken to hospital where he later passed away
Floral tributes have been left at the scene in Bermondsey, south London
Terry was pronounced dead at the scene while University of Gloucestershire graduate Brendan was taken to hospital where he later passed away despite the best efforts of medics. Pictured: Forensics at the scene today
‘Other officers turn up with first aid gear and go into the building and then the paramedics arrive.’
Witnesses said they heard someone screaming ‘Help me!’ and later paramedics were observed carrying out CPR on a stretcher-bound man, The Telegraph reported.
‘I saw him [the suspect] get tackled to the ground,’ one spectator told the same newspaper.
‘There were 12 to 15 people out the back. There was a load of commotion, hundreds of people looking out from the balconies. He was on the ground, facing down, shirtless. He was quite bloody.’
Another witness added: ‘It’s terrifying. I walk past there all the time – it makes you feel really uneasy. You just don’t expect something like this to happen on a normal weekday.’
Reports claim Brendan played for Blackheath Rugby, which was founded in 1858 by old boys of Blackheath Preparatory School, and he is also believed to be a part of Jamaica UK team.
Another of Brendan’s former rugby clubs today paid a heartbreaking tribute to the late sportsman.
‘Yesterday, Old Colfeians lost a member of our family, one of the kindest, funniest, most genuine people you could ever meet,’ the post said alongside a reel of photos of Brendan on and off the pitch.
Officers were called around 1pm on Monday and set up a large police cordon well into the night
Police tape was seen near to where the stabbings occurred on Long Lane, Southwark
‘Brendan lit up every room he walked into, forever smiling, always cracking a joke and always full of life.
‘His absence will be deeply felt for a long time to come. We will miss him more than words can say and we’ll always carry his memory with us.
‘We are also mourning the loss of his beloved father, Terry, a long time supporter and sponsor of the club.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. Rest in peace, Brendan McMillan. Rest in peace, Terry McMillan.’
England Rugby World Cup winner Vicky Fleetwood left a love heart emoji in the comments as tributes poured in.
Police have taped off Studio One of 197 Long Lane in which the offices of The Trademark Group and Trademark Housing are based.
Terry is believed to have grown up in Hackney, east London. Him and wife Sheron reportedly set up a family trust in 2007 to help children from underprivileged backgrounds.
The knifeman suspect is currently under police guard in hospital.
Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond said investigations are underway to probe the full circumstances of the ‘shocking incident’.
She continued: ‘At this point, we do not believe it to be terrorism-related and there is no further risk to the public.
‘There will be a heavy police presence in the area throughout today and I would encourage anyone with information to speak with officers or contact the Met by other means.’
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson added: ‘We were called at 1.04pm today (28 July) to reports of a stabbing on Long Lane, SE1.
Officers remained at the scene in the London borough of Southwark today
‘We sent a number of resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, incident response officers, a command support vehicle and paramedics from our tactical response unit.
‘We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London’s Air Ambulance, which consisted of a paramedic and a doctor in a car.
‘We treated four people at the scene. We took three patients to major trauma centres as a priority. Very sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a person was pronounced dead at the scene.’
Police and paramedics were seen rushing to help the stab victims in mobile phone footage captured by local resident Mario Sergio, 32, yesterday afternoon.
He told the Daily Mail: ‘I looked down and saw several police cars in the street and the building opposite me sealed off with tape.
‘A number of police officers and paramedics were running through the archway into Studio One which is on the side of the building.
‘A victim was taken out on a trolley stretcher. The medics were working on him for some time, giving him CPR.
‘I couldn’t watch for long, I found it too traumatic. I was hoping he’d pull through but it didn’t look as though he was going to regain consciousness.’
The Trademark Group office has five floors of flats above it.
