Coronavirus: Men wanted over 'racist' Oxford Street attack on student

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Suspects sought after 'racist coronavirus attack' — Image caption Det Supt Emma Kirby said she desires to title the boys within the CCTV photos

CCTV photos of four men wanted over an allegedly racist assault in central London maintain been launched.

Jonathan Mok, 23, said he was as soon as walking down Oxford Avenue on 24 February when he heard shouts of “coronavirus”.

The College College London scholar was as soon as beaten and punched in an assault, which the Met Police is treating as “racially aggravated”.

Det Sgt Emma Kirby said she was as soon as “committed to discovering the perpetrators”.

Mr Mok, who is from Singapore, was as soon as attacked at about 21: 15 GMT shut to Tottenham Court Boulevard, shut to to his house.

He posted photos of his bruised gaze on Fb, which maintain been shared hundreds of situations.

Image copyright Jonathan Mok

Image caption Jonathan Mok posted a selfie and yet any other characterize of his injuries on Fb

Describing the assault, Mr Mok said the one who kicked him “was as soon as in truth furious”.

“He shouted: ‘I originate no longer desire your coronavirus in my nation’,” Mr Mok instantaneous the BBC.

The 23-year-weak said regarded as one of the foremost boys threw a punch, inflicting his nose to bleed badly.

“I correct would possibly no longer understand why somebody would target yet any other particular person simply resulting from their skin color – it simply would not invent sense to me,” he said.

“I had an X-ray scan and the doctor instantaneous me there was as soon as a damaged bone across the correct aspect of my face and that I will must note a specialist.

“It is a ways seemingly I will need an operation.”

Image copyright Met Police

Image caption Police said the assault came about on Oxford Avenue shut to to Tottenham Court Boulevard Tube space

Mr Mok said he felt the coronavirus outbreak has been fashioned by some as an excuse to “extra hatred for of us quite so a lot of from them”.

“I correct reflect or no longer it’s a ways a pity to maintain such experiences taint the image of this exquisite metropolis [that has] so many good people.

“When people survey Asian [people] wearing face masks they robotically take hang of that they’re sick and I’ve heard of incidents of folks getting shouted at on the Tube for wearing face masks.

“I’ve in truth been blind to refined racism considerations, so coming out right here and experiencing it presentations there is a severe disaster and now we must enact something about it.”

Det Sgt Emma Kirby added: “There would possibly be no room on our streets for this roughly violent behaviour and we are committed to discovering the perpetrators.”