A finance worker has described how he was left ‘covered in blood’ after being attacked while commuting home on the London Underground.
The 24-year-old victim, who has asked not to be named, said he was on his way home when a stranger launched an ‘unprovoked assault’ on him, leaving him with a broken nose and cuts to his face.
The commuter said he’s been left shaken by the attack, which took place on Thursday, July 17 at around 10.30pm.
Detectives have launched an investigation and are appealing for witnesses.
Recalling the assault, the man told Metro: ‘I was making my way home from work on a packed train when I tried to sit down on a seat where a guy had his bag.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
‘I asked him to move his bag, and he got immediately aggressive with me.
‘He tried to start punching me and began hurling abuse at me. Everyone else just moved away and did not do anything.’
In an attempt to get away, he moved to the other side of the carriage.
When he got off the tube and onto the platform at Liverpool Street station, he suddenly felt a punch from behind.
‘As I got off the train, he just came at me from behind and punched me multiple times, resulting in a broken nose,’ he said.
‘It was straight from the side, so I didn’t even see it coming. I had no time to react – I was stunned.’
He said the attacker punched him three times before stepping back onto the tube car, then took off.
‘I was completely covered in blood,’ he said. ‘Some people gave me tissues before the station staff put me in the medical room before the police arrived.’
He said his life has been ‘put on hold’ after he was signed off work due to the mental toll the unprovoked attack had on him.
He said: ‘I’m getting better now, but for a while I was just very on edge, extremely anxious and was getting stressed over minute everyday things. I was not doing well. I’ve never felt like that before.
‘I’ve been put on medication for it and I’m waiting for longer-term support, albeit I’m feeling naturally a bit better.’
Travelling on the Tube again since the incident has been ‘quite stressful,’ and he has since tried going with a family member to ease his nerves.
‘I live outside London, so I can get the train into Liverpool Street, which is okay, but then getting on the tube is more difficult. I’ve got to get through it unfortunately,’ he said.
The passenger said he was worried that the attacker could hurt someone else in future and urged witnesses to contact British Transport Police.
‘People don’t want either get involved because they don’t want to get hit themselves, but multiple people moved away,’ he said. ‘With hindsight, it could have been prevented if, as a collectiv,e people had said something to him and we all looked out for each other.’
The British Transport Police has issued a picture of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident.
They said in a statement: ‘Anyone who recognises him or witnessed the incident is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 833 of 17 July.’
No arrests have been made.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
