Syrian refugee Salah Barzi, 30, has been jailed for 18 months at Birmingham Crown Court after pulling a knife and chasing a man outside Heron Foods on Erdington High Street. The incident occurred at about 3.30pm on February 27 this year, when Barzi exchanged tense looks with Reuben Davis near the supermarket before the confrontation escalated.
Knife chase in front of onlookers
Barzi pulled out a knife and chased Mr Davis in front of onlookers, including children. The victim tried to escape by crossing the street and entering the supermarket. The 30-year-old then fled into a nearby mosque, where he was later arrested. Police recovered the knife from a communal area of the mosque.
Judge's sentencing remarks
Judge George Lubega told Birmingham Crown Court: "You created a more than minimal risk of serious disorder. You persisted in trying to stab Mr Davis even when he backed off." Barzi, of Oval Road, Erdington, pleaded guilty to making threats with a knife. The court heard he fled war in Syria in 2021 and was a student at the time of the incident.
The case has drawn attention to public safety on Erdington High Street, with the judge's remarks highlighting the severity of the threat posed. The 18-month sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence, which involved a weapon and took place in a busy public area during daylight hours.
