The attack occurred on the evening of 24 december in an area of Bermondsey, south London, often referred to as Blue Anchor. At the moment details are still vague but the police seem to be taking this racial attack seriously for once.
The victim, whose name appears to be Camali Kirgitan (other variants have been given) may have been visiting a Turkish community centre in the area. The actual motive for the assault has not been established and no arrests have been made. Whether it was the random opportunist act of a lynch mob (as in the case of Stephen Lawrence) or a calculated move against the Turkish community is not clear either.
However, Blue Anchor has been a source of concern for some time. A year ago, local newspaper South London Press published a front page appeal "Let's Stop This Race Hate War", pointing out that racial incidents were being committed on a regular basis, often by very young people under the influence of their elders.
The victim is still hospitalised in a critical condition.