A Bengali man from Tower Hamlets has been viciously attacked in a hate crime that has left him “scared to go out”.
Muhammad Chowdhury, a 38-year-old delivery driver, who was wearing a thawb (Arabian ankle-length clothing) was cycling down Leman Street in East London by himself on Saturday, July 10 at midday.
He turned into Cable Street and ended up riding alongside another man cycling in the same direction.
The man, 47, shouted at him: “What are you wearing you f*****g s**t?,” Muhammad told My London.
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It will take Muhammad, 38, several weeks to recover from the wounds
“He called me Isis, a terrorist and was swearing at me – I just didn’t understand why.”
The man followed Muhammad down Cable Street and continued the provocation. He tried to slow down to let the man pass but he slowed down with him.
Muhammad said: “He was saying ‘speak, speak you idiot.’
“The abuse continued until we got to Butcher Row and I asked ‘why are you swearing at me?’ That was it. That was his green light to repeatedly punch me in the head.”
He punched Muhammad in the head several times causing a hairline fracture in his cheekbone and several laceration wounds.
Muhammad went straight to hospital and noticed a sharp pain in the back of his head which doctors have said is the result of him having a concussion.
A passer-by photographed the attacker, who has told police the attack was an act of self defence
It will take Muhammad several weeks to recover. He says the injury has had a substantial effect on his health and day to day activity.
“I get anxious when I go out now, I am afraid someone will attack me. It has had such a detrimental impact on my confidence when I am in public,” he says.
The attacker, who claims he was using self defence, was arrested but released from police custody later the same day.
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Muhammad’s wife Shaheda Najmeen, 39, said: “I had a heart attack. This man has left my husband severely injured and you’re telling me he’s free to go as if he hasn’t done anything?
“I wasn’t even shocked that it happened. This abuse happens all the time. I am just angry. I wish I was there.
“My husband is such a nice guy, I’ve been married to him for eight years and never seen him get aggressive or instigate any conflict. In fact he stays away from situations like that.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at approximately 12:15hrs on Saturday, 10 July to reports of an assault involving two cyclists on Butcher Row, E14.
“Officers attended and spoke with two men aged 38 and 47 years old at the scene. The men both made allegations of assault. The younger man informed officers at the time that he had been racially abused before being taken to hospital for treatment to facial injuries.
“The 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and taken to an east London police station. He was later released under investigation. Officers are continuing to make a number of enquiries in relation to the incident.”
They added: “Officers met with the victim on Thursday, 15 July to discuss the progress of the investigation which is being treated as a hate crime.
“Any witnesses are asked to call police via 101 quoting reference Cad 3128/10Jul.”
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