Arrest after men racially abused in serious attack

The "vile" attack on Sarah Street left one man with "significant and lasting injuries"

A 33-year-old-man is in custody after two men were racially abused and seriously assaulted with a metal pole.

One victim sustained a broken jaw, internal injuries and a fractured eye socket in the "vile racist" attack. Police confirmed the incident on Sarah Street, Lawrence Hill, Bristol on Monday 22 September is being investigated as a hate crime.

The victims were initially involved in a collision that saw their vehicle hit a lamppost, before being attacked by four white men who later left in a white van.

Ch Insp Serena Serjeant said: "These two men were subjected to the most vile - and completely intolerable - racist abuse."

The injured victim has been released from hospital to continue his recovery, the second victim was not seriously injured.

Ch Insp Serjeant added: "This was a truly horrific incident which has left a young man with significant and lasting injuries.

"We're now working to identify the men involved and would urge anyone who has any information at all to come forward and speak to us."

Officers have been conducting CCTV and house-to-house enquiries in the area and on Monday arrested a man on suspicion of racially/religiously aggravated grievous bodily harm.

The group of four men are described as:

• A white man, about 5ft 7ins tall, with blond or ginger hair and short facial hair. He was described as being aged in his 30s or 40s and was wearing a white t-shirt and grey shorts at the time.

• A white man, about 5ft 11ins tall, of muscular build and as having blond hair and being aged in his 40s. He had a colourful tattoo on his right arm and was wearing a white t-shirt and white or grey trousers.

• A tall white man of large build, aged in his 40s with light-coloured hair. He was wearing a polo shirt, khaki jeans and smart shoes at the time.

• A large white man, aged approximately in his 40s, with short ginger hair.

All four of the suspects are described as white men in their 30s or 40s.

One is said to be around 5ft 7ins tall, with blond or ginger hair and short facial hair and was wearing a white t-shirt and grey shorts at the time.

Another is described as being approximately 5ft 11ins tall, of muscular build and as having blond hair and a colourful tattoo on his right arm and was wearing a white t-shirt and white or grey trousers.

A third is described as a tall man of large build with light-coloured hair and was wearing a polo shirt, khaki jeans and smart shoes.

The fourth suspect is a large man with short ginger hair.

Police are urging anyone with information to get in contact.