A teenage boy was slashed with a sword as he walked home from college by a hoodie-wearing gang in West Ham.
The 17-year-old victim was with friends when his attackers ran towards them, one of whom waved the weapon, police said.
While his friends managed to escape, the boy was chased into Birch Close, where he slipped and fell over.
The group then surrounded him and hacked his arm as he tried to defend himself.
He was taken to hospital and needed several stitches before being discharged.
All four attackers were seen to board a train at Star Lane DLR.
Today police released CCTV stills of four males wanted in connection to the attack, which took place just before 6pm on Tuesday, April 17.
“This is a nasty unprovoked attack on a teenager who was walking home from college,” said Det Con Georgina Hebron, from Newham Borough.
One of the suspects is described as an Asian man wearing a black hat, blue padded jacket over a green hoodie, green tracksuit bottoms and black shoes.
The second, a black teenager, wore a black jacket with ‘Crosshatch’ written down the left arm, black trousers and black shoes.
A third, a white man with a short brown beard, wore a green hooded jacket over a dark blue hoodie, blue jeans and white trainers.
The fourth, a black man with a beard, was wearing a dark blue jacket over a grey hoodie, dark blue trousers and white trainers.
Detectives ask anyone with information detectives to call Newham CID on 101 quoting reference CAD 6371/17Apr18 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here