DETECTIVES have renewed an appeal for witnesses after a man was seriously injured when he was attacked at a nightspot in Purfleet.
The incident happened at the Circus Tavern at Arterial Road in August but the victim is still unable to work as a result of the pain and trauma of his injuries.
The 39-year-old Asian man, who is from Kent, received serious facial injuries when he was assaulted by up to eight white men following an altercation at about 1.30am on Saturday August 31. He was detained at Royal London Hospital for three days and required extensive surgery.
The victim and a group of friends had been at the Circus Tavern nightclub but were suddenly attacked by a large group of men inside the venue. The Circus Tavern was running a separate fund-raising event for the family of Lee Rigby on the night in question. Two of the victim’s friends were also assaulted but received less serious injuries.
Investigating officer, Dc Tony Miller, said: “Although no one has suggested this was a racially or religiously aggravated assault it is possible that the group of Asian friends from Kent were singled out due to their assumed connection with a particular religious group.
“There were many customers and staff around at the time of the assaults but so far police have very little information with which to progress this case. Someone at the venue on August 31 knows why this has happened and who is responsible for this and we appeal to those people to come forward.
“The families of the victims are deeply upset by this incident and the most seriously injured victim has not been able to return to work, which has had major financial implications for his family.
“We want to hear from anyone at that event who might have seen anything of the assault or people being ejected from the club by the doorstaff.”
Anyone with information should contact Dc Miller at Grays CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 888111.