Yahoo News Attacker bites off woman’s top lip at Notting Hill Carnival and tells her: 'I'm the devil'
Police are appealing for information after a woman attending the Notting Hill Carnival in west London had her top lip bitten off by a man who told her he was “the devil”.
The woman suffered “life-changing” injuries as a result of the “horrific” attack, the Metropolitan Police said.
The woman was talking to some other women when she was approached by the man at about 6pm on Sunday, August 25, the first day of the carnival.
He told her he was “the devil” then leaned forward and bit her top lip, police said.
The attack took place on Portobello Road, close to the junction with Golborne Road.
The victim, bleeding heavily and in shock, approached police officers, who took her to a first aid post.
The woman was taken to a west London hospital where she underwent surgery. She will require more surgery in the future, the force said.
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Police described the suspect as a black man of muscular build and with short, black hair, who was wearing a black T-shirt.
Detective Chief Inspector Driss Hayoukane, of the Notting Hill Carnival post investigation unit, said: "This was a horrific incident on a woman who has suffered life-changing injuries requiring extensive surgery.
"The man who did this is clearly a violent and dangerous individual and I am determined that we identify and apprehend him as soon as possible."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 using the reference 5483/29Aug19.
An investigation by HuffPost found that the number of arrests at Carnival is similar to that at Glastonbury festival when crowd size is taken into account, despite the narrative around the London event.
Notting Hill Carnival organisers argue there is unfair media focus on crime at the annual street event.
Matthew Phillip, executive director of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, told HuffPost UK: “It is the only festival, the only event the Met do where they automatically put out the crime stats. Any other event the press have to ask for it.”
In 2016 there were 3.76 arrests per 10,00 people at Notting Hill Carnival and 3.1 arrests per 10,000 at Glastonbury.
At Creamfields festival there were 23.67 arrests per 10,000 people.
