Man stabbed in the face in road rage row outside Emirates Stadium

Tuesday February 9, 2010

BY ROISIN GADELRAB

A ROAD rage row ended in horror when a motorist stabbed a pedestrian from Kilburn in the face in front of his two young passengers outside the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Detectives are hunting the attacker, who lost his temper with a man who crossed the road in front of him outside the stadium at the junction with Benwell Road, Highbury, between 12 and 12.30pm on Saturday.

The driver, who was in his late 20s and drove a Silver A Class Mercedes carrying two young children in car seats in the back, beeped his horn and shouted racial abuse at the victim, a 29-year-old man.

The clash descended into a row and the motorist spat at the victim.

The pedestrian spat back, flicked the V-sign and walked off into Benwell Road.

Just seconds later, the victim was attacked from behind and hit in the face, soon realising he'd been stabbed.

Police say the driver then ran back to his car and sped off overtaking other cars in the direction of Drayton Park.

A passer-by helped the victim, who was taken to hospital for treatment and discharged later that day.

The suspect is described as about 5ft 6in tall, stocky, with short dark or brown hair, and was wearing blue jeans and a blue or dark bomber jacket. 

He is said to have had  a northern accent. 

Detective Sergeant Tony Quinlan from Islington’s Community Safety Unit said: "This was a vicious attack carried out for no apparent reason. Islington Police treats all stabbings very seriously especially those which are racially aggravated.

"Forensic enquiries are being carried out on the victim’s clothing and we are trawling through footage from CCTV cameras. Highbury West Safer Neighbourhoods team will be distributing leaflets in the area to encourage witnesses to come forward."

Anyone with information can call DS Tony Quinlan or DC Peter Smith at the Community Safety Unit on 020 7421 0175 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.