A man has been left with a brain injury after being knocked unconscious during an unprovoked early-morning attack in Liverpool city centre. Merseyside Police were alerted by the North West Ambulance Service following reports of a serious assault at the junction of Fleet Street and Hanover Street at around 6.30am on Saturday, May 23.
The suspect allegedly shouted a racial slur at the victim before launching the attack. The victim, a man in his 20s, suffered a skull fracture and a brain injury, which has left him with a speech impediment. He required treatment in hospital, where he remained for two weeks.
Detectives have carried out extensive CCTV and witness enquiries and have now released images of a man they believe could assist with their investigation.
Police Appeal for Information
Detective Inspector Joe Rea said: “This was a dangerous and reckless attack which left the victim seriously injured from the unprovoked attack. The victim required extensive hospital treatment, and he now has a speech impediment from his brain injury. We believe this incident to be racially motivated, however we are exploring all lines of enquiry and would appeal to anyone who information to please contact us. Our enquiries are ongoing, and we are determined to find the person responsible.”
He added: “I am appealing to the man featured in the CCTV footage, or anyone who recognises him to come forward. We believe he could hold information that could be vital to our continuing enquiries.”
Commitment to Tackling Hate Crime
Det Insp Rea emphasised: “In Merseyside, we believe that everyone should be able to live their lives without fear of being subjected to verbal or physical abuse. We are committed to tackling hate in our communities and would strongly encourage all victims to come forward and report such incidents. Where we identify a crime, we take firm action and offer the support of partner agencies to ensure the person reporting gets the assistance they need to feel safe.”
Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X or Facebook @MerPolCC. You can also report information via the force's website or by calling 101 quoting incident reference 26000420107. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website.
Anyone with any information on a hate crime in their area can contact police via Facebook and X at @MerPolCC, or call 101. You can also report information via the force's website. As part of the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service, specialist support services are available. You can access this service via the Victim Care website or by calling freephone 0808 175 3080.
If you do not wish to speak to the police, you can contact the independent charity Stop Hate UK to report a crime and get advice. Stop Hate UK’s helpline is available 24 hours a day and is completely confidential. You can report a hate crime by telephone 24/7 on 0800 138 1625, via webchat at stophateuk.org/report-here/, or through the Stop Hate UK hate crime reporting app available on App store and Google Play store.
