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Veteran branded 'local hero' after protecting children from man with knife

1 sources1 storiesFirst seen 4/30/2026Score25Mixed Progress
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A veteran has been branded a "local hero" after protecting children from a man wielding a knife.

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Dave Atkinson, 41, who served eight years in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, was at home on Lotherton Drive in Spennymoor, County Durham, when he heard shouting outside at around 3:50pm on Tuesday.He looked out to find distressed women and children nearby, unaware that a man with a knife was in close proximity.The veteran said: "I didn't know what was going on at first, but I could hear shouting.

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TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say "There were girls there who were really distressed and crying, and there were kids around too.

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I spotted it straight away, but the girls hadn't seen it as they had their backs turned."Drawing on his military training, Mr Atkinson acted quickly and calmly, guiding the women and children into a nearby home and instructing them to lock the door before calling police and specifically requesting armed backup, the Northern Echo reports.

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Bloggbnews.com4/30/2026