Police hunt three men who abused and attacked Asian man in ‘horrible hate crime assault’ in Whitechapel

Police in London are hunting for three men who made anti-Muslim remarks before attacking an Asian man in the middle of the day.

The “horrible hate crime assault” happened on Friday afternoon in Whitechapel, east London, with the victim suffering a head injury, Scotland Yard said.

The suspects, said to be white and in their 20s, reportedly got out of a blue Ford Fiesta before hitting the 27-year-old with a blunt object before making off.

Officers were called at 1.18pm to Cannon Street Road to the reported assault.

The victim’s head injury is not believed to be serious.

He was driven to hospital and left without treatment, but then went to another hospital and was subsequently discharged, the Metropolitan Police said.

Detective Chief Inspector Sean Channing said: “This was a horrible hate crime assault on a man going about his daily business.

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“Whilst there were initial Islamophobic comments made by this group towards the individual which are being treated seriously, I would like to make clear that at no point did the group approach any mosque or congregation in the area.

“There is no evidence to suggest that the mosque near the area was the intended target.”

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101 quoting CAD 3563/15MAR or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.