The owner of a Watford café has recounted how a “chemical attack” victim ran inside her business pleading for help.

Karine Pinto, owner of Cafe Cidade in Whippendell Road, said she has struggled to sleep after the incident on Saturday afternoon which saw the road cordoned off by police for several hours.

She was working at her coffee shop when a man in his 40s claimed someone he knew had sprayed a foam-like substance on his face while trying to steal his money.

Watford Observer: A man in his 40s entered Cafe Cidade on Saturday afternoon asking for help.A man in his 40s entered Cafe Cidade on Saturday afternoon asking for help. (Image: Cafe Cidade)“He started to get unwell very fast so he sat down on the chair and we put water on his head,” the café owner said. “We thought he was having a stroke so I called the ambulance straight away.”

There were around five people inside at the time including one customer who started crying.

Watford Observer: Cafe owner Karine Pinto said: We thought he was dying so it was very, very stressful.Cafe owner Karine Pinto said: We thought he was dying so it was very, very stressful. (Image: Karine Pinto)Emergency services arrived within 30 minutes, according to the café owner, and Hertfordshire Police cordoned off the junction with Durban Road West for 100 metres in either direction.  

Watford Observer: Firefighters with breathing equipment entered the cafe to remove the injured man before he was passed over to the ambulance service.Firefighters with breathing equipment entered the cafe to remove the injured man before he was passed over to the ambulance service. (Image: Cllr Nigel Bell)Firefighters wearing breathing gear removed the person from the café and gave him to the ambulance service's hazardous area response team. 

Karine said: “That was very, very shocking. I didn’t expect for it to happen. When the police came with that protection for chemicals, I got very scared because I saw the things were really getting serious.

Watford Observer: Whippendell Road and the areas around it were cordoned off by police for several hours.Whippendell Road and the areas around it were cordoned off by police for several hours. (Image: Contribution)“After two hours they took the guy from the coffee shop and we thought he was dying so it was very, very stressful.”

The following day Karine did not open the business, which she has owned with her daughter since June 2023, but has since reopened today, May 13.

Police have confirmed that there have been no arrests and it is believed to be an isolated incident.

The man is in hospital in a stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, while investigations to identify the alleged chemical used proved “inconclusive”.
Watford Observer: Some residents were unable to return home due to the police cordon.Some residents were unable to return home due to the police cordon. (Image: Contribution)An eyewitness said the area was “swarming with police” as officers cordoned off the junction with Durban Road West until around 9.30pm.

Some people were unable to get to their houses and residents were advised to stay inside and close their windows.

Nigel Bell, county councillor for West Watford, thanked the emergency services for their “swift and professional service”.

Herts Police enquiries are continuing and any information can be reported via their website quoting reference Op Router.