Police appeal for help after vicious attack on estate

NEIGHBOURS on a West Hampstead estate are shielding a racist duo who subjected a Muslim to a brutal hate attack, police believe.
The 30-year-old Muslim was subjected to a torrent of religious and racial abuse as he was punched and kicked in the head in Petros Close near the Lithos Road estate last Tuesday night.
Two of at least four witnesses to the savage and unprovoked attack gave police false names and addresses.
A police spokesman said: “We believe they know the identity of the suspects and gave false names and addresses because they were scared of what would happen if they came forward. People in the area must know who these two are.”
The attack followed what police described as a “friendly discussion” between the Muslim man, a friend of his and a group of residents who told them that they could not park where they had in Petros Close.
As the car was moved, two younger men, aged 18-20 and described as of Turkish or southern European appearance, appeared and attacked the Muslim in front of a small crowd, shouting “you ****ing Muslim” before running off into Lithos Road.
The victim was treated for a fractured jaw at the Royal Free Hospital and released on Friday.
On Tuesday police moved to reassure anyone who heard the twosome bragging about the attack, or who witnessed it, that they could give anonymous evidence.
A spokesman said: “This was a cowardly and unprovoked attack by people who believe they are above the law. This is not the case.
“We ask the community to help us in bringing these people to justice.”
On Monday police and council leader Dame Jane Roberts met with 80 concerned Muslims at the Suma Centre in Robert Street, Regent’s Park, to discuss increased hate crime fears.
Superintendent Martin Richards said: “The concerns are primarily for Muslim women and the younger members of the community.”
Supt Richards said that the 600 per cent year-on-year rise in faith crime was mainly down to more diligent reporting; overall the number of race and faith crimes added together has barely changed from 61 in July 2004 to 63 in July 2005, even though the number of faith crimes alone has risen from four to 25 over the same period.
He added: “Officers have been trained so that crimes that may have been identified as hate crimes in the past are now recorded more accurately as faith crimes.”
Racists may also be using religious rather than ethnic slurs in the wake of the recent London bombings, police believe.
Anyone with information about the West Hampstead attack can call DC Cheryl Haque on 0207 404 1212, or crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.