A 28-year-old man from Romford has been arrested on suspicion of two counts of racially aggravated harassment and assault of an emergency worker, following a series of violent incidents in Dagenham on Sunday, 13 October.
The man first assaulted two members of the public near the Tesco Express store in the Heathway Mall. The first victim had food thrown in their face inside the store. In contrast, a second victim, a female member of the public, was seriously assaulted outside the premises and sustained serious injuries. She was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Following his arrest, the suspect then assaulted a police officer in the custody office. The man remains in custody, and he has been arrested on suspicion of Section 20 Grievous Bodily Harm for the assaults on the public, as well as the additional charges of racially aggravated harassment and assault of an emergency worker.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said:
We were called to The Heathway in Dagenham at around 20:56 on Sunday, 13 October, following reports of two people being assaulted. The suspect was inside the Tesco Express store where he assaulted a member of the public by throwing food in their face. He then seriously assaulted a female member of the public outside the store. This victim was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.”
The investigation is ongoing, and the suspect remains in custody as authorities continue to assess the circumstances of the incidents.