Ananova:

A man cut off his penis with a knife in a packed restaurant in central London.

Police had to use CS gas to restrain the man in the Zizzi pizza restaurant in The Strand, reports the BBC.

He was taken to hospital in south London where surgeons were reportedly unable to reattach his penis.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said he was aged between 30 and 40 and confirmed his injuries were self-inflicted.

A spokeswoman for Zizzi said the man was not thought to have any connection with the restaurant.

She said: "At around 9pm on Sunday, a man walked into the Zizzi restaurant on The Strand, down the stairs to the basement restaurant area and tried to enter a kitchen.

"Members of staff stopped him, at which he ran into a second kitchen area.

"The man then picked up a kitchen knife and slashed himself across the wrist and groin areas before running back into the restaurant, where he continued to stab himself.

"This happened in a matter of seconds and was obviously extremely frightening and distressing for the many customers and staff in the restaurant at the time."

She added: "Apart from the man, we understand that no-one else suffered any physical injuries."