Mile End cab drivers in terrifying knife ordeal

A minicab driver has told how he was attacked when a group of knife-wielding thugs stormed his company’s offices.

Moktar Ali was left bruised and bloodied after being punched in the face with a knuckleduster during the terrifying ordeal in the early hours of Sunday morning.

His firm, Mile End Car Hire Service, in Burdett Road was targeted by the gang at around 5.45am.

In a horrifying account of the attack, Mr Ali, 37, says he had a knife held to him and that he and his colleagues – three other drivers and the controller - were subjected to racist taunts.

He told the Advertiser: “There were four men. They had a big knife. They were swearing and saying racist things and they punched me in the eyebrow with a knuckleduster.”

The thugs ran off before police arrived, he added.

The married father-of-four, who lives in Forest Gate, was taken to hospital and says he was told his eye could have been seriously damaged in the attack.

He explained: “I haven’t been able to sleep properly and I’m frightened when I go outside. My family don’t want me to go outside at all. I have been getting headaches.”

Tower Hamlets police said in a statement: “Police were called to an incident at a cab office on Burdett Road on Sunday at about 6am. Following at disturbance there two males were arrested for affray and were taken to an east London police station.”

A man has been charged in relation to the incident and a second man has been bailed pending further enquiries.