Kew stabbing: victim named as top business executive and former adviser to the government Eric Salama

A victim who was stabbed with “an enormous knife” in an attempted carjacking near Kew Gardens has been named as a top business executive and adviser to the government.

Eric Salama, 57, was attacked just before 8am on Sunday after walking back to his car from a nearby cafe to find a suspect trying to steal it.

He suffered a stab wound to the chest and crawled back to the cafe for help, where he was treated by paramedics.

He is said to be in a stable condition in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Mr Salama is the CEO of global marketing firm Kantar TNS and has previously served as an advisor to the Government on e-commerce and business.

Between 1984 and 1986, he was a researcher and speechwriter to The Labour Party Foreign Affairs Team in the House of Commons.

Mr Salama is also a trustee of the British Museum and governor of Birbeck College in London.

The university tweeted they were “extremely upset” to learn of the attack.

“We were extremely upset to learn that Eric Salama has been attacked and injured in an incident in Kew.

“Eric has been a passionate supporter and governor of the College for a number of years and we would like to wish him a speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with him and his family.”

Kantar said in a statement that Mr Salama was recovering well after the incident.

Mr Salama had been speaking with staff at Café Torrelli nearby before walking back to his car.

It has been reported that when he returned to his car he found a person sitting in the driver’s seat who challenged him.

He was then knifed in the chest and forced to crawl to the cafe to seek help.

Shop owner Fasink Nizri, 39, told the Mail: 'It happened in a matter of minutes - two minutes - I saw blood, there was screaming. Eric is a decent man and has no problems with anybody.

One witness to the attack wrote on Twitter:

"Horrific stabbing this morning outside Torellis [coffee shop] - thoughts with the victim.

"Enormous knife. Not what you expect in Kew on a sleepy Sunday morning. Stay safe all."

Police believe the suspect to be a black male wearing a dark hoodie and a snood at the time of the incident.

Superintendent Rob Applegarth, from the Met's South West Command Unit told the Mail that additional patrols would be conducted in the area in response to community concern.

“Although this happened fairly early in the morning, we know people would have been up and about and in the area at the time,” he said.

"We are keen to establish the exact circumstances of this incident and would ask anyone with information to contact police immediately."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference CAD 1985/20Jan or tweet @MetCC. You can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.