A POOLE restaurant employee was seriously injured when a man walked in through the kitchen, picked up a knife and attacked him.

The incident took place shortly before 5pm on Monday at Georgie Porgies Buffet World restaurant in Tower Park.

The restaurant was not open to customers at the time.

The 20-year-old victim of the attack is understood to have suffered wounds to his shoulder, right arm and side as he tried to defend himself.

He was driven to Poole Hospital by another member of staff, but his injuries were not life-threatening. An insider said the injured man, who works part-time at the restaurant, was setting out buffet items when the attack began.

“There was no argument. He just came inside, took a knife and hit it hard. He was very angry.

“It caught my colleague on the right arm, the shoulder, and four to five times in the side. There was a lot of blood.”

The assailant ran off towards the Empire cinema.

A police spokesman said they received a call at 4.53pm reporting a serious assault at Georgie Porgies, but the casualty, who lives in Poole, had already gone to hospital.

Officers later arrested a 22-year-old man in the Westbourne area of Bournemouth.

The restaurant opened as usual for the evening despite police investigators being on the premises.

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the attack.

Witnesses and anyone with information are asked to contact them on the new police number 101.