UK Muslim victim describes acid attack as hate crime

LONDON: A Muslim man who recently suffered “life-changing injuries” when he was sprayed in the face with acid in East London has described the incident as a hate crime, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

Speaking in an emotional interview with broadcaster Channel 4, Jameel Mukhtar said: “I believe it was something to do with Islamophobia or maybe he’s got it in for Muslims because of what’s been going on lately.”

Mukhtar, 37, was in a car with his cousin Resham Khan who was celebrating her 21st birthday when they were sprayed a corrosive substance.

Police have released the image of 24-year-old John Tomlin in connection with the attack and appealed for information about his whereabouts. A police statement warned the public not to approach Tomlin.

“Both victims received life-changing injuries,” according to police.

“Horrific pictures of the injuries received by Resham Khan have been shared on social media.

More and more people have been taking to social media to share emergency medical procedures in case of an acid attack.

Islamophobic incidents in the UK have seen a spike since the deadly terror attacks in Manchester and London Bridge, according to security officials.

In the harrowing Channel 4 interview, Mukhtar recalled “screaming like a baby” when he was hit by the acid.

“I am never going to be the same again, I will always be scarred. I had been on a life support machine for two days… I am emotionally wrecked,” he added.

Mukhtar told Channel 4 the reaction to the incident had not been enough.

“If this was by an Asian guy like myself, going up to an English couple in a car and acid attacking them, I know for a fact that the whole country knows; it’d be straight away classed as a terrorism attack,” he said. — Bernama