CCTV footage has been released showing the moment comedian Paul Whitehouse was attacked at a cashpoint in Islington, London, over the weekend. The Fast Show and Gone Fishing star was shoved away from the ATM while picking up his wife's medication.
Footage Shows Standoff at Cash Machine
The footage, captured from across a busy London road, shows Whitehouse approaching the cash machine on Essex Road. A man then walks up and pushes him away, leading to a standoff between the two. The incident appears to have started because Whitehouse approached the cashpoint before the attacker, as both were waiting for it to become free.
The CCTV shows the attacker throwing Whitehouse's bank card at him, which the comedian retrieved from the pavement.
Witness Describes 'Queue Rage' Incident
A shopkeeper who witnessed the attack told the Daily Mail the escalation was 'completely disproportionate' and 'no doubt terrifying for Paul'. They added: 'He's a hugely popular character around here. Everyone knows and loves him so there's been a lot of upset over the news. To be fair, it wasn't really a mugging as first reported – it was more like queue rage. But that doesn't make it any less awful – to attack a man who is nearly 70 just because he didn't notice you were waiting is shocking behaviour. The bloke needs to be caught before he does this to someone else.'
Wife Shares Details on Instagram
Whitehouse's wife, Dr Mine Conkbayir, shared details of the attack on Instagram, characterising it as an attempted mugging. 'Well, a horrid start to the weekend would be an understatement,' she wrote. 'Yesterday, I had a bad reaction to some treatment, which has left me feeling rather rotten. So, last night, Paul dashed out to get me some meds. He was mugged on Essex Road (Islington) – at the cashpoint beside the Sainsbury's Local.'
According to Dr Conkbayir, Whitehouse fought off his attacker and retrieved his card, leaving the person to 'scuttle away empty-handed'. She added: 'I kept shtum, out of respect, but he just came over, having taken our daughter to football, still frustrated. I asked whether he'd like me to post – he said yes – in the hope that it might help folk to be more aware when out and about. So, please, everyone – I don't mean to patronise, but please be super vigilant out there.'
