KFC has confirmed that a "serious incident" took place at its Bromley High Street branch on Thursday afternoon, after an altercation that began at the restaurant spilled onto the street and left four men with stab wounds.

A spokesperson for the chain said the company is assisting the Metropolitan Police and "supporting our team members and customers at this difficult time". While emergency services initially treated victims outside the premises and a neighbouring Nationwide branch, witnesses confirmed the violence broke out at the fast-food outlet itself.

One eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said they saw a fight break out at the entrance: "A male in a grey tracksuit pulled out a machete and ran further into KFC holding it up in the air, at which point most people around KFC started running away, including my friend and I."

Georgiana, manager of the nearby Merkur Slots arcade, said she locked three customers inside her premises for safety after seeing the fight spill out onto the High Street.

Seven men remain in custody following the incident, which occurred shortly after 2:15pm. One victim remains in hospital in a critical condition, while the three other injured men are being treated for non-life-threatening wounds.

Emergency services mounted a major response, deploying local officers, armed units, London's Air Ambulance, standard ambulance crews, and a fast-response paramedic. A London Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed: "We treated four patients at the scene and took them all to hospital."

Peter Fortune, the Conservative MP for Bromley and Biggin Hill, said on X that residents would have understandable safety concerns and that he remains in touch with police commanders. The Met reiterated that officers do not believe there is any wider threat to the public.

Bromley High Street remains closed in both directions between Ringers Road and Ethelbert Road, with the Ringers Road bus stop closed and around 15 bus routes running on diversions.

Detectives are continuing their enquiries and have urged witnesses or anyone with footage to call 101 quoting CAD 4008/10SEP, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

I'll continue following this investigation and will update as more details are confirmed.