Man taped being mugged by rioters recovers in hospital

A YOUNG man seen in a distressing video being beaten and mugged — and becoming one of the most arresting images of the disturbances so far — is recovering in hospital with a broken jaw.

Asyraf Haziq’s attack was captured on video and has been broadcast on news stations across the world.

The 20-year-old from Malaysia was studying at Kaplan International College and was being treated at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, where he is to have an operation for a broken jaw. He also suffered broken teeth.

Haziq’s mother, Maznah Abu Mansor, 47, told Malaysian website, the Star: “I was initially very worried, but I’m glad that he is all right. However, I am not able to talk to him because of his injuries.”

Footage shows Asyraf Haziq, collapsed on a railway bridge in Barking, east London, with blood pouring from a facial injury during Monday’s violence.

While a black male appeared to come to his aid, another rioter wearing a baseball cap approached from behind and unzipped the rucksack on his back.

Haziq staggered off in a daze after his mobile phone and wallet were stolen. He had been on his way to buy food to break his Ramadan fast when he was attacked.

Haziq was on a bicycle when he got caught up in the street violence.

One group of rioters knocked him to the ground and stole his bicycle before repeatedly punching and kicking him in the face. It was then that another group of looters spotted him laying on the ground and mugged him.

The Metropolitan Police are investigating the incident, and have identified one of the culprits.

Wan Azmi, consular officer of the High Commission of Malaysia in London, said the student was in “high spirits” despite his ordeal, but that he may have to undergo an operation to fix a metal plate in his jaw.

Mr Azmi said: “He is doing OK, but his jaw is broken and his face was very swollen. He can’t eat at the moment, so he’s being fed through a drip.”