Diner caught up in London Bridge terror attack vows to return to restaurant to pay bill

A diner caught up in the London Bridge terror attack has vowed to return to the restaurant and pay the bill.

Richard Angell (pictured above), director of the Progress think tank, was eating with friends at Arabica Bar and Kitchen in Borough Market when the attack took place.

Seven people were killed and 48 injured after three men drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before stabbing a number of people in nearby Borough Market.

Mr Angell said he intends to return to the restaurant when it reopens to pay the bill and give a double tip.

He praised the actions of a waiter in the restaurant who put his foot behind a door and wedged it closed to stop the attackers from entering.

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‘We were sitting at the table closest to the door,’ Mr Angell told The Independent.

‘Part way through our main courses it became clear that the security staff outside were saying “lock the door” and “duck and hide”.

‘This remarkable young waiter, who probably wasn’t being paid very much, positioned himself next to the door, put his foot behind it and wedged it closed.

‘Everybody else panicked. Me and a couple of friends tried to calm the storm. We were trying to work out what was happening, stop people injuring each other as they were clambering to get away from it all, turning over tables.

‘A member of staff locked the door. Despite the fact that their lives were at risk, the staff were concerned about our lives, which was a remarkable thing, and I will be going back not only to pay the bill, but also to double the tip.’

Along with about 30 other diners, he waited upstairs above the restaurant for about 30 minutes before being led out of the premises by police.

From an upstairs window, he watched as the attackers carried out their knife attacks.

‘Through the window I saw this guy leaving the restaurant Black & Blue, and he was covered in blood. He was holding his chest or neck, and he was staggering through. I just hope he found the medical attention he clearly needed.

‘Then I saw a guy opposite throwing a table at men who seemed to be attacking a woman. We didn’t have a clue what it was at the time, but this wonderful guy saw these guys attacking someone and was desperately trying stop them.’

In a separate interview with BBC News, Mr Angell said he would not be cowed by terror.

He said: ‘If me having a gin and tonic with my friends, flirting with handsome men, hanging out with brilliant women, is what offends these people so much, I’m going to do it more, not less. Because that’s what makes London so great, that’s what makes this the best city in the world. And we’re going to go out and do it more.’

(Main picture: Rex)