An LBC presenter was attacked in London yesterday, though you’ll probably recognise him more from Question Time and other political programmes:
LBC radio presenter Maajid Nawaz was attacked last night, with police investigating following reports of a racially aggravated assault.
Nawaz said he does not wish to “harbour hate” for his attacker, who allegedly racially abused him, as he criticised “far-left” and “far-right” figures on social media for politicising his attack.
The LBC presenter was hit from behind outside the Soho Theatre in central London on Monday night by a white male, he said, posting a photo of the cut to his forehead, caused by a punch to the face with what could have been “a signet ring”.
He said his forehead could be scarred for life and that he expected his attacker to be found, and face “British justice”. Nawaz said there were witnesses who heard the racial abuse and they gave statements to the police who “have his face on CCTV”.
The attacker, whom Nawaz called “a racist coward” ran away without attempting to rob him.
The founder of the Quilliam Foundation, an anti-radicalisation organisation, criticised “far-left” social media users for politicising his attack by highlighting his centrist views, which they apparently claimed “legitimise rightwing hate”.
He also criticised “far-right” figures for “callously casting doubt on the fact that this racist attack even happened”.
Later, on Facebook, he thanked witnesses, nurses and members of the emergency services for treating him with diligence and care: “I just returned home from the hospital after having my wound glued up. I owe a huge debt to the two lovely young witnesses (both white non-Muslims) male and female who called the police, and waited with me to console me, and then provided a witness statement (I won’t identify them as I don’t wish to endanger them).”
“Your kindness kept me sane. I also thank Soho Theatre for identifying the racist assailant on their CCTV footage. I thank the police first responders (all of whom were white non-Muslims) for their professionalism (even though after the kind policeman asked my profession, he did ask “what’s LBC?).
“People from all ethnicities and all faiths and none helped me yesterday. It’s in that spirit that I wish to carry on my work. I do not wish to harbour hate for my attacker. I’ve already been down that path at a younger age and I have seen how it leads to nothing good.”
The Metropolitan police said they were called to a report of a racially aggravated assault in Dean Street at 7.10pm.
A Met police spokesperson said: “Officers attended the location. The suspect had made off prior to the arrival of police. An investigation has been launched. There has been no arrest at this stage.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/ ... ted-attack