Thursday, November 20, 2008

Random Hammer Attack - Sudden Jihad Syndrome?...

A GROUP of friends were attacked with a hammer after getting into what they thought was a taxi in Oldham.

Between 2.30am and 3.30am on Sunday 2 November 2008, a man, his girlfriend and another woman got into what they believed was a private hire taxi on Yorkshire Street after a night out. The taxi driver took them towards the man's home but at Alt Lane, unexpectedly turned the car around and drove back towards the town centre.

He then stopped the car on Abbeyhills Road where another man pulled up in a car. Both men then got out and dragged the victims out of the car and hit the man a number of times in the head and body with a hammer. Police are now appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.

Both men are described as Asian. The first was tall with black wavy hair and the other was of stocky build and wearing a black top or a jacket. Detective Constable Craig Morgan from Oldham CID said: "This was a bizarre set of circumstances that resulted in a group of friends enjoying a night out being savagely assaulted and robbed.

"We are making numerous inquiries to trace the drivers of both cars and I would appeal for the public to help us with our investigation. Did you see anything on Abbeyhills Road at about the time of the attack? "I would urge anyone with information to come forward."

Anyone with information should call Oldham CID on 0161 856 8951 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

No comments: