Polish community to march for killed factory worker

A POLISH factory worker beaten to death in a suspected race-hate attack will be commemorated with a “unity march” in his adopted home town.

Arkadiusz Joz wik , 40, known as Arek, was attacked by a teenage gang outside a pizza restaurant in Harlow, Essex, after apparently being overheard speaking in Polish.

T h e me a t f a c t o r y wo r k e r, wh o moved to England in 2012, had spent the day decorating his mother’s flat.

He had gone to buy food with two friends when they were set upon by up to 20 youths. One of his friends was r ush e d t o hospi t a l where he was treated for multiple frac tures and bruising.

The close-knit Polish community in Harlow has now organised a march through the town on Saturday.

Friend Eric Hind, 32, an IT manager who has lived in Harlow for 14 years, said racism in Harlow had risen dramatically since the Brexit vote.

He told the Standard: “These two big men were beaten up very badly and now Arek is dead.

“We need to be loud, we need to be clear that the Polish aren’t going anywhere. We work tough jobs that no one else wants to do.”

Local workers said police had been warned several times about a gang causing trouble in the area.

Essex Police said they had received reports of nuisance and anti-social behaviour in the area for the past two months.

Four 15-year-old boys and one 16year-old boy, all from Harlow, were arrested on Monday on suspicion of a t t e mp t e d mu r d e r and later re - arrested on suspicion of murder.

All have been released on police bail pending further enquiries until October 7. A sixth teenager, a 15-year-old boy from Harlow, was arrested yesterday afternoon on suspicion of murder and was later released pending further enquiries.