Road-rage driver stabs pedestrian outside the Emirates Stadium

Published: 12 February 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

A ROAD-RAGE row ended with a motorist stabbing a pedestrian 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 noon and 12.30pm on Saturday.

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

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 stabbed in the face. 

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. He was wearing blue jeans and a blue or dark bomber jacket, and 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 inquiries 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 Det Sgt Quinlan or Detective Constable Peter Smith at the community safety unit on 020 7421 0175 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.