THE VICTIM OF an acid attack in London has said that if it happened to a white person, “it’d be all over the news”.
Jameel Muhktar and his cousin Resham Khan were left with life-changing injuries when a man threw acid through their car window as they sat in traffic in Newham, London.
Muhktar spoke out about the incident for the first time yesterday in an interview with Channel 4 News, calling the attack a “hate crime”.
“I honestly feel that if this was a white person that got attacked by an Asian person he’d be caught within 24 hours. It’d be all over the news, there’d be a national manhunt,” Muhktar told Channel 4 News yesterday.
I believe it’s something to do with Islamophobia.
“I’ve never seen this guy in my life. I don’t have any problems with anybody. My cousin is 21, she’s a business student. Why would anyone do that to us?”
‘Excruciating pain’
Muhktar and Khan were out celebrating her birthday when the man threw the acid through the car window.
He just squirted this clear liquid over us which I thought was water until my cousin started to scream.
I was watching her burning. Next thing you know, I’m burning.
Muhktar tried to drive away from the scene when he realised what had happened but, in a state of panic, he crashed the car into a barrier.
“Out of panic, I’ve stripped naked. I’ve stripped her as much as I could. I’m dragging her, she’s screaming and crying. I’m screaming, I’m kicking on people’s doors, banging on doors, crying, screaming, she’s screaming,” Muhktar said.
When they arrived at the hospital, doctors had to jet wash Muhktar to clean the acid off his skin.
It was excruciating pain. I was screaming like a baby.
Muhktar was put into an induced coma following the attack, while Resham underwent a skin graft.
They both suffered severe burns to their faces and bodies.
He told Channel 4 News that they have been left to just “shrivel up and wait” in the hospital.
“I don’t know if people are trying to retaliate, but I mean we’re innocent people, we didn’t deserve that. It was my cousin’s 21st birthday,” he said.
“All I want to say is it’s dangerous for everybody out there. Not just Muslims, everybody.”
The guy tried to kill us, I’m lucky I’m alive.
Metropolitan Police are appealing for a man who they would like to speak to in connection with an acid attack in east London.
John Tomlin, 24, is described as white, 6 foot tall of stocky build with short hair.
Officers advise members of the public not to approach Tomlin but if they see him to dial 999 immediately.
Detective Superintendent Neil Matthews, said: ”I would like to reassure the public that our continued focus remains on finding the person responsible for this horrendous act of violence.
“We will continue to progress these enquiries as quickly as humanly possible and fully understand concerns that they should be brought to justice quickly.”
Almost £35,000 has been raised for the pair through an online GoFundMe page.
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