Afghan Migrant Who Stabbed Dog Walker 14 Times Handed Indefinite Hospital Order 

An Afghan migrant who stabbed a dog walker to death in a random and frenzied knife rampage after attacking his landlord has been handed an indefinite hospital order.

Dawood Safi, 28, was suffering from psychosis when he launched the violent attack in Hillingdon, west London, on October 27, 2025.

The Uber driver first attacked his landlord, Shahzad Farrukh, leaving him seriously injured and fighting for his life after stabbing him several times in the neck, chest, and back.

According to Daily Mail, Safi then fled into the street, where he encountered 49-year-old Wayne Broadhurst, who was walking his beloved spaniel, Harry.

Broadhurst had the tragic misfortune of crossing Safi’s path during the rampage.

The Liverpool FC fan was stabbed 14 times in the head, neck, chest and back in what prosecutors described as a “frenzied, random, and entirely unprovoked attack.”

He died in the street as his dog remained beside his body, while horrified neighbours watched the violence unfold.

Prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw KC told Southwark Crown Court that Broadhurst had suffered the “terrible misfortune” of walking past while Safi was on his rampage.

The victim worked as a street sweeper for Ealing Council and was described by the judge as a “gentle, quiet man.”

One witness described the attack as a “butchering”, while another said Safi looked “like he was possessed.”

Police eventually Tasered Safi, who was described as having a “glazed expression” and appearing not to understand or respond to officers’ commands.

Who did the Afghan migrant attack first?

The court heard Safi had been living in an annex at Mr Farrukh’s home in Midhurst Gardens after moving in at the beginning of August 2025.

Mr Farrukh, 45, worked as a contractor for Thames Valley Police.

Safi became increasingly distressed after being told he had to leave the accommodation within days.

On the afternoon of October 27, Mr Farrukh entered his kitchen and saw Safi’s silhouette through a glass door leading to the annex.

When he opened the door, he found Safi only a few feet away and armed with a large kitchen knife.

Laidlaw said Safi launched an “unannounced attack” on his landlord, who was unarmed and caught completely off guard.

Safi stabbed Farrukh in the neck and other parts of his body.

The injured landlord and a 14-year-old boy who was also caught up in the violence managed to escape and seek refuge with neighbors.

Jurors later found Safi guilty of attempting to murder Mr Farrukh.

They were unable to reach a verdict on whether he had attempted to murder the teenager.

Safi later admitted charges relating to grievous bodily harm with intent against Mr Farrukh, actual bodily harm against the teenager, and possession of the knife.

Afghan migrant was suffering from psychosis

Prosecutors said Safi had experienced a severe deterioration in his mental health before the attacks.

In the days leading up to the stabbing spree, he had visited his GP, undergone a mental health assessment at Hillingdon Hospital and sought help at Hayes Police Station.

Laidlaw told the court that Safi was hearing voices and had become consumed by paranoia and delusional beliefs.

He believed that people, including members of his family in the UK, were controlling him and plotting against him.

The court heard that Safi had also believed Mr Farrukh could help him because of his connection to the police.

During the attack, Safi reportedly made comments indicating that he was angry with his landlord for not accompanying him to the police station earlier that day.

Broadhurst family wanted a murder conviction

Safi was originally charged with the murder of Broadhurst.

However, prosecutors accepted his guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility after evidence about his mental state was presented.

Broadhurst’s family has expressed deep disappointment that Safi was not convicted of murder.

His long-term partner, Ann Newman, said the killing had “stolen” her future and left painful reminders during birthdays, family celebrations and other milestones.

“No words can fully express the pain my family and I have endured since Wayne was taken from us,” she said in a statement.

Newman’s sister, Laura Ireland-Cochrane, said the family found the decision extremely difficult to accept and remained anxious about the possibility of Safi eventually being released.

Afghan migrant’s journey to UK

The court also heard about Safi’s journey to Britain.

He arrived in the UK in 2020 on the back of a lorry after travelling from Afghanistan through several countries, including Iran, Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Safi claimed he was 17 when he arrived, although authorities later believed he was at least five years older.

He was granted asylum in 2022.

Initially, Safi told authorities that his father had been murdered by the Taliban and that he had been harassed by the group in Afghanistan.

However, he later told a psychiatrist that his father had actually been killed by a family member during a land dispute, which he said he witnessed when he was 10.

The court also heard that Safi’s cousins had advised him what to tell UK authorities to maximise his chances of being allowed to remain in Britain.

Judge rules prison sentence for Afghan migrant inappropriate

Safi appeared at Southwark Crown Court via videolink on October 5, when he was sentenced by Mrs Justice Cutts.

The judge said the consequences of his actions had been devastating.

She ruled that Safi’s psychosis was the sole cause of his offending and that a conventional prison sentence was therefore not appropriate.

Instead, he was handed an indefinite hospital order and is expected to spend several years in a high-security psychiatric hospital.

The judge warned that Safi may never be released into the community