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NHS Worker Attacked And Injured For Confronting Passengers Not Wearing Masks

NHS Worker Attacked And Injured For Confronting Passengers Not Wearing Masks

The healthcare employee suffered a broken eye socket and a chipped jaw

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

An NHS worker has had his eye socket broken and suffered other injuries after he was chucked off a London Underground train following a confrontation with three other passengers who were not wearing masks.

The man was punched repeatedly during the assault, which happened after he pointed out to the three passengers - two men and a woman - that they were breaking the law by not wearing masks on the tube without a valid exemption.

One of his attackers hit him on several occasions before throwing him off the train at High Street Kensington station.

In addition to his eye socket - which was broken in three separate places - he suffered a chipped jaw bone.

The three unmasked passengers stayed on the train and continued their journey after the attack.

The incident actually occurred at around 10pm on Saturday 3 October, but has only come to light yesterday (27 October) as the British Transport Police released a photograph from train CCTV that shows a man they would like to talk to about the incident.

British Transport Police

The man is white with short blonde hair and was carrying an umbrella.

If anyone recognises the man, who the British Transport Police believe could have information that could assist their investigation, they should contact BTP on 61016 via text, via telephone on 0800 40 50 40, quoting the reference number 2000068891.

Alternatively, anyone with information can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Wearing a face covering on public transport has been mandatory for anyone without a valid exemption since 15 June this year in order to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus in situations where socially distancing is not always possible.

The latest figures show that 500 people have been fined in London for not wearing a face covering on London's transport system.

In addition, 113,000 have been stopped from getting onto public transport until they have put on their face mask, and 1,800 have been removed from services.

PA

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) states that the wearing of face coverings in settings such as public transport can provide some extra protection against the virus, and help people to avoid unwittingly spreading the virus to others if they are carrying it but showing no symptoms.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, travel