American student in “Muslim Patrols area” of London

An American student has been beaten in East London’s “Muslim Patrol” area after walking around openly drinking a bottle of beer.

Scotland Yard released security camera footage of Francesco Hounye, 22, being surrounded by the youths. Though there is no audio, the young asian men are seen gesticulating at Hounye before one provokes an altercation during which Hounye is repeatedly beaten and chased.

While it is not known if the attacks are directly related to the “Muslim Patrols“, the area has been affected in the past year by growing intolerance to the exercising of freedoms on local streets.

The video comes almost a year after the team that now runs TrendingCentral.com uncovered a “Muslim Patrol” vigilante squad in East London whereby local extremists would harass members of the public to move away from mosques, and to “cover up” and “not drink” in such areas.

The gang appear to smash a bottle into Houyne’s face and then repeatedly kick and punch him as he tries to escape.

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The Times of London reports:

Mr Hounye, from Florida, had only been in London for three days and had been considering continuing his studies in Britain.

Scotland Yard said the attack was not classed as a hate crime as they believed Mr Hounye was targeted simply because he was “obviously not local”.

Mr Hounye, who was originally from Italy, had been out for the night in Brick Lane area of Whitechapel, East London, with a friend he was staying with when he was attacked just after midnight on June 17.

The area has seen attacks by self-appointed members of “Muslim Patrols” who have targeted people who have been drinking, they believe are gay, or women they consider to be dressed inappropriately.

CCTV footage shows Mr Hounye and his friend being followed by a number of Asian men as they walked back to the friend’s home.

It is not clear what was said but the exchange became heated and the suspects threatening and aggressive.

One of the suspects grabbed a bottle the Mr Hounye was drinking from and smashed it against his face.

British convert to Islam admits to role in East London 'Muslim Patrol'