Asylum seeker 'couldn't defend himself' in riot

Mr Ali said he had been punched in the face during a night of violent disorder in Hartlepool

A man randomly punched in a street during recent riots has said he could not defend himself.

Footage has been circulating on social media showing Goran Delshad Ali, who said he was an asylum seeker, being hit under the chin during a night of violence in Hartlepool.

Cleveland Police said it was investigating an assault.

Speaking through a translator, Mr Ali said: "I was hungry and wanted to go to the pizza shop to buy food, but I was hit."

Hartlepool saw a night of violent disorder last Wednesday during which multiple officers were injured and a number of people arrested for public order offences.

In a TikTok live stream broadcast on the night, a man is seen being hit as he walked down a pavement, towards a small crowd of people.

Mr Ali, who said he was from Kurdistan and had been living in the UK for 18 months, has been identified as the man in the video.

Speaking through a translator, in Kurdish Sorani, the day after the attack, he said: "I thought, I haven't done anything wrong.

"Why did he hit me?

"At that time I couldn't defend myself, there were many of them."

Mr Ali is seen in the footage then turning around and walking back down the street.

A TikTok livestream showing a man being punched was screen recorded and shared

Cleveland Police said it was investigating an assault after mobile phone footage, that was posted on social media, showed "a young boy of black or ethnic origin" being "punched to the face".

"It is believed to have occurred on Lowthian Road and detectives are urging him, or anyone who may know who he is, to come forward and contact police on 101," a spokesperson said.