Forest Gate minicab driver tells of knife attack
A Forest Gate minicab driver has told how he was attacked when a group of knife-wielding thugs stormed his company’s offices.
Moktar Ali was left bruised and bloodied after being punched in the face with a knuckleduster during the terrifying ordeal.
His firm, Mile End Car Hire Service, in Burdett Road was targeted by the gang at around 5.45am on Sunday.
In a horrifying account of the attack, Mr Ali, 37, says he had a knife held to him and that he and his colleagues – three other drivers and the controller - were subjected to racist taunts.
He said: “There were four men. They had a big knife. They were swearing and saying racist things and they punched me in the eyebrow with a knuckleduster.”
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The thugs ran off before police arrived, he added.
The married father-of-four, who lives in Forest Gate, was taken to hospital and says he was told his eye could have been seriously damaged in the attack.
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He explained: “I haven’t been able to sleep properly and I’m frightened when I go outside. My family don’t want me to go outside at all. I have been getting headaches.”
A spokesman for Tower Hamlets police said: “Police were called to an incident at a cab office on Burdett Road on Sunday at about 6am. Following at disturbance there two males were arrested for affray and were taken to an east London police station.”
A man has been charged in relation to the incident and a second man has been bailed pending further enquiries.
