This shocking footage shows a Tesco employee ‘kick out’ at an aggressive customer who then retaliates by charging at him with a huge stick, in what a witness claimed was a row about a stolen Pot Noodle.
The video shows a row that starts with a tug of war over a backpack outside a branch of the supermarket in Hackney Road, London.
Two customers are then pulled back into the store by staff. However, seconds later they reemerge onto the street.
Harry Anderson, who filmed the video, said one of the customers then threw what looked like a Pot Noodle into the store.
The altercation continues down the road as staff follow the retreating customers and heated words are exchanged.
One of the Tesco employees then appears to kick out at the customer.
The customer retaliates by swinging his backpack at the worker before another employee runs in swinging his arms at the shopper.
Moments later the bag is flung into the air by the shop worker who kicked out.
The row continues down the road where it appears that a Tesco worker kicks out at a customer
The brawl then appears to calm down as the customers leave the area.
However, the man soon returns with a huge stick and charges at the Tesco workers chasing them back into the store.
They run for safety and the customer smashes the stick against the exterior of the shop.
Then it appears that another employee becomes involved in the fracas
Mr Anderson, who watched the whole thing unfold while on his lunch break on January 16, said he believed the incident may have started with an accusation of shoplifting, although there is no evidence that any crime was committed.
He said of the violent encounter: ‘I don’t think the Tesco worker should have reacted that way at all.’
‘They showed absolutely no respect for each other – no matter who the person is you can’t do that.’
A Tesco spokesperson said: ‘We’re aware of this incident and are investigating what’s happened.’
A few seconds later once the group has separated the man who appeared to have been kicked returns with a huge stick
He then chases the employees back towards the store where they run for safety – the customer then bashes the stick against the exterior of the shop