A Muslim man who recently suffered "life-changing injuries" when he was sprayed in the face with acid in East London has described the incident as a hate crime, Turkey's Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
Speaking in an emotional interview with broadcaster Channel 4, Jameel Mukhtar said: "I believe it was something to do with Islamophobia or maybe he's got it in for Muslims because of what's been going on lately."
Mukhtar, 37, was in a car with his cousin Resham Khan who was celebrating her 21st birthday when they were sprayed a corrosive substance.
Police have released the image of 24-year-old John Tomlin in connection with the attack and appealed for information about his whereabouts. A police statement warned the public not to approach Tomlin.
"Both victims received life-changing injuries," according to police. Horrific pictures of the injuries received by Resham Khan have been shared on social media.
More and more people have been taking to social media to share emergency medical procedures in case of an acid attack.
Islamophobic incidents in the U.K. have seen a spike since the deadly terror attacks in Manchester and London Bridge, according to security officials.
'I will always be scarred'
In the harrowing Channel 4 interview, Mukhtar recalled "screaming like a baby" when he was hit by the acid.
"I am never going to be the same again, I will always be scarred... I had been on a life support machine for two days... I am emotionally wrecked," he added.
Mukhtar told Channel 4 the reaction to the incident had not been enough.
"If this was by an Asian guy like myself, going up to an English couple in a car and acid attacking them, I know for a fact that the whole country knows; it'd be straight away classed as a terrorism attack," he said.
Various social media posts have suggested that a Bengali man was also injured on Thursday in a separate acid attack in the Commercial Road area of East London.
However, police told Anadolu Agency they held no information on such an incident.
In a separate development, a man who abused two Muslim women in north London was jailed after "admitting to religiously/racially aggravated assault," according to a police statement issued on Friday.
Alex Chivers, 36, made abusive, Islamophobic comments, calling the victim who was walking with her mother "ISIL scum" and shouting "You deserve this," before striking one of them in the face with a packet of bacon, police said.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Sat Jul 01 2017
![UK Muslim victim says acid attack was Islamophobic UK Muslim victim says acid attack was Islamophobic](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-06/81496553375_LondonBridge.jpg)
Islamophobic incidents in the U.K. have seen a spike since the deadly terror attacks in Manchester and London Bridge. - Photo for illustration purpose
![Jangan normalkan remaja bawah umur memandu Jangan normalkan remaja bawah umur memandu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723017349_TBbawahumur.jpg)
Jangan normalkan remaja bawah umur memandu
Masyarakat dinasihatkan untuk tidak menormalkan perbuatan memandu kenderaan oleh remaja bawah umur yang berbahaya termasuk boleh mengakibatkan kematian.
AWANI Ringkas: Bukan arahan saya - Fahmi Fadzil
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Wang kertas tertera wajah Raja Charles dilelong RM5.2 juta
Wang kertas tertera wajah pemerintah monarki Britain, Raja Charles III, berjaya dilelong pada harga 914,127 pound Sterling (RM5.2 juta) dalam empat siri lelongan di London baru-baru ini.
Penemuan takungan air, saintis percaya wujud hidupan di Marikh
Jumlah takungan air yang banyak jauh di dalam kerak planet Marikh, menimbulkan semula persoalan dalam kalangan saintis yang percaya tentang kemungkinan wujudnya hidupan di planet merah tersebut.
Mpox atau cacar monyet: WHO isytihar mpox kecemasan kesihatan awam global
Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) mengisytiharkan Monkeypox atau Mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global, pada Rabu.
Parlimen Thailand pilih Perdana Menteri baharu Jumaat ini
Parlimen Thailand akan bersidang pada Jumaat ini bagi mengadakan mesyuarat khas memilih Perdana Menteri baharu susulan keputusan mahkamah yang menyingkirkan Srettha Thavisin pada Rabu.
![Parlimen Thailand pilih Perdana Menteri baharu esok Parlimen Thailand pilih Perdana Menteri baharu esok](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723695263_TBSretthaThavisin.jpg)
Parlimen Thailand pilih Perdana Menteri baharu esok
Parlimen Thailand akan bersidang pada Jumaat ini bagi mengadakan mesyuarat khas memilih perdana menteri baharu susulan keputusan mahkamah yang menyingkirkan Srettha Thavisin pada Rabu.
5 kematian akibat komplikasi denggi pada ME ke 31 dilaporkan
Jumlah kes demam denggi Pada Minggu Epidemiologi ke-31 tahun 2024 dilaporkan sebanyak 2,515 kes berbanding 2,609 kes pada minggu sebelumnya.
[TERKINI] Fahmi nafi arah Google nyahaktif ciri graf penukar ringgit
Menjawab tuduhan seorang pengguna X, Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai itu menerusi platform sama menegaskan beliau tidak pernah mengarahkan penyedia perkhidmatan itu berbuat demikian.
![Wanita dan kanak-kanak maut dalam nahas kereta, MPV di Kuala Kangsar Wanita dan kanak-kanak maut dalam nahas kereta, MPV di Kuala Kangsar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723694795_KemalanganMaut.jpg)
Wanita dan kanak-kanak maut dalam nahas kereta, MPV di Kuala Kangsar
Dua maut selepas kereta dinaiki terlibat dalam kemalangan dengan sebuah MPV jenis Toyota Velfire di Jalan Kuala Kangsar-Manong.