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Pole who fought terror attacker in London honoured with Queen’s medal: audio report

27.09.2023 14:45
A Polish hero porter who in 2019 fought off a London Bridge terror attacker with a makeshift weapon has collected the Queen's Gallantry Medal at Windsor Castle.
Audio
The London Bridge.
The London Bridge.burge5000, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Łukasz Koczocik, 38 at the time of the attack, was one of four men who confronted Islamist terrorist Usman Khan in November 2019. As the tragedy unfolded, Koczocik sprang into action grabbing a pike from the wall of the building attempting to disarm the attacker. Despite being stabbed several times, Koczocik fought back until others joined and the terrorist was forced out.

On Tuesday, the brave Pole received the Queen's Gallantry Medal at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

“I just did what I thought was right at that time and place, never a hero,” Koczocik told reporters after the ceremony.

“I did something which I never expected I could do myself, now I know there’s more in me,” he added.

Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland’s Michał Owczarek.