A suspect regretted upsetting the apple cart when a fruit and veg shopkeeper bravely intervened after a bicycle and some of his merchandise was thrown at police officers.
Hero Abdul Guldari, 57, stepped in as violence flared outside his business, Fruit and Vegetable House on Villa Road, Birmingham, on Tuesday, October 24.
He tackled a man to the ground after a punch was thrown at an officer by the same person who attacked them with a bicycle. The scenes unfolded after officers tried to restrain a different man near Mr Guldari’s store.
He decided enough was enough when some of his fruit was thrown at the officer who was punched.
He told BirminghamLive he was ‘100 per cent’ behind the police as shoppers shook his hand and thanked him for his bravery.
The dad-of-six, who lives alone in the UK and is originally from Afghanistan, said mayhem broke out after the officers asked the man they were initially trying to restrain to show some ID.
He said: “The police said nicely: ‘Show us your ID’. That man started fighting with the police. Two or three other police came. One person took the bike from the ground and threw it at the police.
“The man who threw the bike took one of my bowls and threw it at the police – I was angry. I helped the police and he went down. More police came and took the men away.”
He said the scene was closed off for a few hours before it reopened.
Mr Guldari added: “The police thanked me for my help, I live here, I work here, I eat here, I respect England, this is the same as my country back home. If police ask for my help, I will help.
Mr Guldari visits a market in Perry Barr at 3.30am to pick up fresh produce before running his shop from 8am to 9pm. He said the incident had not left him unnerved.
He said: “I’m very happy, I am not thinking of bad people, I’m not thinking about this. I’m happy here, I’m relaxed.”
Since footage of the incident went viral, a steady stream of people flocked to the store to shake hands and congratulate Mr Guldari on his actions. Ashraf Ahmed, 49, from Handsworth, said: “He’s a nice guy. He has the best prices and is the best person.
“I came here to see if he is OK, everybody loves him” Another local, David, said: “I think he was protecting his fruit and veg. He’s doing his bit for the community. He’s a good man.”
West Midlands Police said a 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and a 30-year-old man on suspicion of assault and possession of drugs.
They remain in custody for questioning. Three officers were taken to hospital to be treated for injuries which were thankfully not serious.
Detective Superintendent Jim Munro, from Birmingham Local Policing Area, said: “Our officers are on the frontline every minute of every day – often putting their own safety at risk – to help and protect the public in their time of need.
“Attacks on our staff while carrying out their daily duties are unacceptable and will never be tolerated.”
