Lying in hospital, the first picture of beaten refugee

HIS face is black and blue, his body twisted with pain.

Kurdish Iranian asylum seeker Reker Ahmed is making a slow recovery from a near-fatal attack which left him with a fractured spine.

The 17-year-old was pictured in hospital as police revealed they are still looking for three key suspects.

Mr Reker was waiting at a bus stop in Croydon, south London, on Friday night when he was attacked by a gang of up to 30 people.

He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and doctors say he is lucky to be alive. Police have already arrested 16 people over the attack and charged 13 with violent disorder.

As Mr Reker was visited in hospital by fellow Kurds yesterday, Chief Superintendent Jeff Boothe said: “There are three more key individuals believed to have played a part.”

Extra police officers are patrolling the area to try to reassure residents.

The victim’s brother, Hadi Ahmed, said Mr Reker did not recognise him when he visited him in London’s King’s College Hospital. Family friend Abdullah Abdullah said the teenager’s face was “black and blue” when he went to see him on Tuesday. Mr Abdullah said: “He was very bad. His face had been smashed very badly.”

Rebaz Mohammed, a Kurdish community leader, said: “The police and community are all coming together to crack down on racism. We want everyone to co-operate with the police and we want justice and care for Reker.

“There’s not enough support for asylum seekers, especially young people in London. They need help to integrate.”