Maajid Nawaz: LBC radio presenter injured in ‘racially motivated’ attack

‘He took nothing. He was just a racist,’ says counter-extremism campaigner after incident in London

LBC presenter and anti-extremism campaigner Maajid Nawaz said eh was attacked by a man who shouted a racial slur at him (Maajid Nawaz/Twitter)

The founder of a counter-extremism organisation has said he was “racially attacked” and hit in the face outside a theatre in central London.

Maajid Nawaz said a white man attacked him behind outside the Soho Theatre.

The LBC radio presenter posted a photo of a bleeding cut on his forehead and said he was racially abused then hit in the face with “maybe a signet ring”.

He said the attacker ran away “like a coward” and “took nothing”.

“He was just a racist,” Mr Nawaz said.

The Metropolitan Police said they were called to a report of a racially aggravated assault in Dean Street at 7.10pm on Monday.

A spokesperson said the suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.

No arrests have been made and Scotland Yard has launched an investigation.

Mr Nazaz tweeted: “Tonight I was racially attacked while alone outside Soho theatre, from behind, as I bent down to pick up my phone.

“The white male assailant called me a ‘f***ing P***’ as he hit me in the face with maybe a signet ring & ran away like a coward. He took nothing. He was just a racist.

“There are witnesses who heard the racial abuse and have given statements. The police have his face on CCTV.

“My forehead will probably be scarred for life. But we will find you, you racist coward, and you will face British justice.”

He added: “I’ll be okay. We grew up with this. It’s the life that forged us.”

He asked not to be contacted, but thanked those who had offered their support.

Mr Nawaz founded the Quilliam Foundation, which focuses on counter-extremism.