Terrifying moment 'smiling knifeman 'randomly stabbed five people' in 'Manchester shopping centre

Chilling CCTV footage captures the moment a 'smiling' knifeman calmly purchased the blade he used during a random rampage that saw him stab five people.

Shoppers in Manchester's Arndale shopping centre ran for their lives and dived for cover as Raphael Chevelleau, 43, knifed three people and attempted to wound two others as he dashed through the mall.

Chevelleau, a paranoid scizophrenic, earlier bought a kitchen knife on the morning of October 11 2019, from Blackley Pound Store near his flat in Rochdale Road, Rochdale, before he caught a bus into the city.

Manchester Crown Court heard he entered the Arndale at about 11.05am and shortly after went into a baby-change room, where he unwrapped the knife packaging and left with the stainless steel chef's knife in his jacket pocket.

Andrew Ford, prosecuting, said: 'With no warning he broke into a run, wielding the knife, and randomly stabbed five members of the public.

'He caused widespread fear and panic among the general public visiting the Arndale Centre that day and a sense of pandemonium as people fled.

'Witnesses found it unnerving he was not saying anything. People shouted at him to stop. It had no effect.'

Schizophrenic Raphael Chevelleau entered the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester at about 11.05am and shortly after went into a baby-change room, where he unwrapped the knife packaging and left with the stainless steel chef's knife in his jacket pocket

'Smiling' Manchester knifeman Raphael Chevelleau, 43, launched a violent stabbing spree that lasted just over a minute in Manchester's Arndale shopping centre

His first victim was a 61-year-old engineer, who Chevelleau stabbed in the back.

The defendant swiftly moved on to a 35-year-old woman walking with her husband in the centre.

The court heard he ran past them before he returned and swung the knife towards her stomach and grazed her.

The woman later recalled Chevelleau had a 'wide cheesy smile' as he attacked her.

Chevelleau next targeted a 45-year-old woman pushing her baby in a pram, who had a lucky escape as the knife came close to her ribs.

A 21-year-old woman from Ireland, visiting the city with friends for an 18th birthday celebration, was then attacked as their group sat outside a Starbucks cafe with suitcases in tow.

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