Man, 73, attacked on way home from evening prayers at mosque
Shocking CCTV shows the moment a pensioner was attacked by three thugs as he walked home from a mosque after evening prayers.
The 73-year-old worshipper was walking along a road when the trio got out of a black vehicle on York Street, in King’s Heath, Birmingham.
One assailant can be seen kicking the OAP forcibly in the back, causing him to fall and smash his head on a display board outside a bar.
The gang fled the scene at around 11pm on Wednesday evening while the victim was taken to hospital with a broken hand and cuts to his face.
West Midlands Police has now launched a manhunt for the attackers while the victim’s family have also appealed for information on social media.
His daughter wrote on Facebook: ‘Last night at around 11pm my dad was violently attacked by a group of thugs on York Road as he was on his way back home from the mosque.
‘They assaulted him from behind and left him unconscious on the footpath bleeding out.
‘He is in hospital. Please pray for him and be safe and vigilant.
‘Also if anybody saw anything or heard anything, please, please I urge you to contact the police so that we can catch these cowards.’
The force said there was no evidence to suggest the attack was linked to two men being set on fire near mosques in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and Ealing, west London.
Sergeant Chris Gallon, of Moseley and Kings Heath Police, added: ‘This was an appalling attack on a member of the public who was heading home.
‘We’ll be taking a full statement from the victim, who remains in hospital today, and we’ve already got officers in the area this morning recovering CCTV and carrying out house-to-house enquiries we are working hard to identify the attackers and the car that they were in.
‘We’ll also have extra officers in the area for reassurance, and it’s important that anyone with concerns comes to speak to us.
‘At this stage the motive for the attack is not clear, but there is nothing to suggest any connection at all to the recent attack on a man who was walking home from a mosque in Edgbaston.’
The attackers are described as two white men and one black man, all aged between 18 and 30. All were wearing tracksuits.
Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward said: ‘This was an attack on an elderly gentleman walking home from his local mosque and our thoughts are with the victim and his family at this time.
‘Ward councillors and the Community Safety team are speaking to the family and West Midlands Police and will continue to offer support.
‘Council officers and local councillors have also been engaging with community groups and local mosques to offer support to the wider community.
‘We would urge everyone to work with the police and to avoid any speculation at this stage – and would like to thank the local community for their willingness to share information on this incident.’
Anyone with information has been asked to get in touch via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk, quoting log 5182 of 29 March.
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