Four men wanted over racist 'coronavirus' attack on student

4 March 2020, 14:26

Police have released CCTV footage of four men after a student was the victim of a racist attack in central London.

During the attack, the four men allegedly punched the student and shouted "coronavirus".

23-year-old Jonathan Mok said he was walking along Oxford Street when he heard shouts from behind him .

As he turned towards them, one of the men shouted “don't you dare look at me” and launched at him.

The Singaporean student says he was set upon by a group of "four or five men and a woman".

In a Facebook post, Mr Mok wrote: “The guy who tried to kick me then said, 'I don't want your coronavirus in my country', before swinging another sucker punch at me, which resulted in my face exploding with blood from my nose, where the blood was splattered all across the pavement.”

“Racists constantly find excuses to expound their hatred - and in this current backdrop of the coronavirus, they've found yet another excuse,” he continued.

Police said Mr Mok, who has lived in the UK for two years, was punched and kicked during the attack, leaving him with facial injuries.

It is one of a number of racially motivated attacks linked to coronavirus in the UK. Last month, a woman in Solihull was punched in face and knocked out during a racist coronavirus attack

Detective Sergeant Emma Kirby, the officer in the case, said: “This attack left the victim shaken and hurt. There’s no room on our streets for this kind of violent behaviour and we are committed to finding the perpetrators.

“I am keen to speak to anyone who has information about this assault. I would like to identify and speak to the four men pictured who may be able to help me with our enquiries.”

Any witnesses are asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 7522/24FEB.