Yobs smash chef's head on road in race attack

A CURRY chef has told how he was subjected to a terrifying racist attack at the hands of two young men who repeatedly smashed his head on the road and dropped a boulder on his knee.

Jahirul Islam was set upon as he walked near his home after completing his shift at the St John's Curry Club restaurant in Corstorphine. The father-of-three was kicked and punched to the ground by the suspects who shouted racist abuse at him while continuing the unprovoked assault for around five minutes.

The 37-year-old was left with a broken nose, cuts and bruises to his face and an injured knee following the attack which took place in Hutchison Crossway.

Mr Islam was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and doctors carried out an X-ray to look for signs of a fractured skull.

The attackers pulled off his shirt and jacket while he lay on the ground and also tried to steal his wallet, which contained 370.

Mr Islam's wife and children were left shocked by the extent of his injuries after seeing his battered face and vest covered in blood.

Police today appealed for help in tracing the suspects, who are believed to be aged between 18 and 20, following the incident, at about 11.30pm on Saturday.

Officers are checking CCTV from the area and hope the attack may have been captured on film.

Mr Islam, who moved to the Capital from Bangladesh nine years ago, said: "I had finished working at the Curry Club and I was walking home. A woman came past me very fast and we accidentally bumped into each other. We both said sorry and she walked away.

"But these three men standing in the street started asking why I pushed her. Then two of them started punching me in the face and kicking me.

"I fell to the ground and was lying flat on my stomach. They grabbed my head and started banging it against the road many times.

"Then one of the men got a large stone from a building site and dropped it on my knee.

"They only ran off after saying to each other that the police could be coming."

Mr Islam, who lives in Hutchison Terrace with his wife, Rujiwa, 31, sons Zahid, 11, and Eamon, seven, and daughter Riya, four, said the men hurled racist abuse while beating him.

He added: "They kept saying things about black people while hitting me. I don't know why they decided to attack me but it was definitely a racist attack. They are very dangerous men".

Mr Islam managed to call his brother with his mobile phone who phoned for an ambulance to take him to the ERI, where he was released following treatment at 5.30am on Sunday.

Doctors have told Mr Islam to take two weeks off work from the St John's Road restaurant, where he has worked for the last year, to rest and recuperate.

A police spokesman said: "Police are investigating after a man was assaulted in the Hutchison Crossway area on Saturday evening. The man required treatment for minor injuries following the assault that took place around 11.30pm. Anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious should contact police immediately."