Two 14-year-old boys and a 20-year-old man have been arrested over the stabbing of an elderly shopkeeper while he defended his east London post office.
The 70-year-old was knifed as he brandished a shop sign in a bid to drive away attackers during the attempted robbery in Walthamstow on Sunday.
CCTV footage showed the man swiping at the masked and hooded assailants after they stormed his shop.
A customer is also seen using a stool to protect against the attackers.
The two boys and the man were arrested on Tuesday before being taken an east London police station for questioning, police said.
Detectives are still appealing for information after the attempted raid on the shop in Carr Road.
Officers were called at around 9.10pm by the London Ambulance Service and found the victim with a number of stab wounds.
He is in hospital in a serious but stable condition, Scotland Yard said.
Three suspects were seen to leave the premises immediately after the stabbing.
They wore dark tracksuit bottoms and dark jackets with hoods. One man had a grey hooded top underneath a black "puffa" style jacket.
Detective Sergeant Ben Voss of Waltham Forest CID said: "This was a violent attack on a pensioner who was trying to run his shop.
"The assailants used an extreme level of violence against elderly man who was trying to defend himself, his wife, customers and business.
"The attack could have resulted in tragic consequences but luckily the victim is now recovering in hospital.
"I would appeal to anyone who has any information on who was responsible to contact police as soon as possible."
Anyone with information regarding this stabbing is urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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