Asian man has top of his finger chopped off in suspected hate crime in Rotherham

BBC News, The Mirror and The Star all report on a suspected hate crime incident involving an Asian man who had the top of his finger chopped off with a “meat cleaver” in a “racially aggravated” attack outside a BP petrol station in Rotherham.

South Yorkshire Police said in a statement that the 31 year old victim was withdrawing money from a cash machine outside the BP garage on Herringthorpe Valley Road in Rotherham on 27 February 2015, at approximately 6am when he was approached and attacked by two unknown men.

The Asian victim was allegedly punched in the face numerous times before the top of his finger was sliced off with a meat cleaver. The two attackers then left the scene in a dark coloured vehicle.

The victim was taken to hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

South Yorkshire Police described one of the perpetrators as a tall, slim built, white male. The victim has been unable to describe the second attacker.

Detective Inspector Richard Partridge said the incident was being treated as a “racially aggravated” assault. He also said that the victim did not know his attackers and the attack was unprovoked.

He added: “A full investigation is underway and as well as reviewing CCTV, we have a team of detectives in the area and officers are supporting the victim. The incident is being taken extremely seriously and we can reassure members of the community that we are following a number of lines of enquiry to identify these offenders. If you were in the area at the time or saw or heard anything suspicious, please do contact police on 101 quoting incident 223. We’d also like to speak to the driver of the taxi who dropped the victim off at the garage as they may hold vital information about the assault.”

Since the incident happened, South Yorkshire Police have stepped up police patrols in Rotherham amid fears of reprisal attacks on local Muslim communities in reaction to child sexual abuse scandals that have recently concluded in court.

Only last Thursday, a man was found guilty of the murder of Muhsin Ahmed, an 81 year old Muslim grandfather, who died after sustaining serious head injuries following a vicious assault in the early hours of 10 August 2015. The elderly man was taunted by his attackers who called him a “groomer” before punching him  and stomping on his face.

Asian girls in Rotherham have also spoken of their fears of going out after being threatened with rape by far right extremists to “even things up” and a growing number of violent protests have been held in the town by far right groups protesting against “Muslim grooming gangs”.