Three people have been arrested after a gang sparked terror by storming a packed restaurant to confront a couple having dinner.
The chaotic scenes unfolded at Tashas Battersea, in south-west London, at about 8.20pm on Monday evening.
Four people, three men and one woman, rampaged through the eatery before ‘targeting’ a man and a woman who were sitting down and enjoying a meal.
Restaurant workers told MailOnline the man seated at the table was allegedly chased through the building by the group, in a suspected ‘domestic incident’.
Panicked customers dived for cover as objects and food were tossed through the air. Some terrified diners reportedly fled the restaurant amid the pandemonium.
Other people eating in the nearby Wagamama restaurant reported they had to be ‘evacuated’ due to the attack.
Three men fled in a car which was later stopped by police, with two men aged 27 and a third aged 28 being ‘arrested for possession of an offensive weapon,’ the Metropolitan Police said.
One person eating in Wagamama said the whole site was placed into ‘lockdown’ after a terrified waitress from Tasha’s burst into the eatery crying.
‘Someone from Tasha came into Wagamama screaming and really panicked, with tears running down her face,’ he said.
The chaotic scenes unfolded at Tashas Battersea at around 8:25pm on Monday evening
‘They put Wagamama into lockdown. I then looked outside and everyone was running away towards Battersea Power Station tube station.
‘We then found out there had been an incident with this gang of people… stormed in and where attacking this one person. We were really shocked.’
The three attackers then dashed out of the door and escaped the scene in a car that had been parked outside, according to staff.
A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police told MailOnline: ‘Police were called to reports of a fight between four individuals at a venue in Battersea Power Station at around 20.30hrs on Monday, February 3.
‘After the suspects fled the scene by car, officers were able to stop the vehicle a short distance away.
‘There were no reported injuries.
‘Two men aged 27 and one man aged 28 were arrested for possession of an offensive weapon and affray. They remain in custody. Enquiries continue.’
A source told MailOnline the chaos lasted for about a minute before the gang fled Tashas.
Eye witnesses claimed some of the attackers were armed with knives. However, this has been denied by the restaurant.
But speaking of the incident, one staff member told the Metro: ‘Three guys came in the restaurant, very casual, very normal. Then one pulled a knife on a couple who were just having a quiet dinner.
According to on-site staff members, at least three men carrying knives stormed the eatery and headed to a couple who were seated at a table enjoying a meal
‘Quick as a flash some of the staff responded and piled in to quell the situation. Some big guys got involved and forced them out.
‘There was some pushing and shoving then security from the development got involved and the three ran off. Their faces weren’t covered or anything it was very brazen.
‘It looked like they had targeted the man and woman. The way the staff reacted was heroic it was something else, especially when you consider a knife was involved.’
The witness inside Wagamama added: ‘I’ve heard instances before of gangs going into restaurants to target individuals but never to this scale.
‘It’s a shopping district with crowds of people and families there – with lots of people just trying to have a good time. To see something like this was a bit of an abomination. It ruined everyone’s evening.
‘Tasha’s is a very high-end restaurant… I can imagine the clients who eat there are pretty high-brow.
Other horrified witnesses took to social media to describe what they experienced.
One X/Twitter user wrote: ‘Horrible scenes in Battersea Power Station this evening.
‘A gang of 20 people walked into Tashas to attack someone.
‘One of the waitresses ran into Wagamamas next door, where my girlfriend and I were eating.
‘Praying for those affected.’
A spokesman for Tashas Group said: ‘Four unidentified individuals entered the restaurant and confronted a table of guests causing a commotion. There were no weapons, except a pocketknife, contrary to what has been reported in the media.
‘Our team responded swiftly and decisively, immediately alerting the police who later apprehended the suspects by identifying their car registration on the CCTV footage from the restaurant.
‘We remain committed to providing a welcoming and safe space for our guests and staff and will continue to work proactively to uphold these standards.’
