WARNING: images of violence below
A MUSLIM taxi driver has revealed the details of a shocking assault he suffered in early December. Shahid Iqbal, 50, who is based in the Normanton area of Derby, said that a woman passenger refused to pay her £7 fare. He told her to leave his cab, but she then grabbed the steering wheel and asked him to pay her some money. He tried to call 999, but the passenger bit his hand to stop him. He then got out of the cab himself – and was followed across the street by the passenger. She was joined by someone else, and the two proceeded to punch and kick Mr Iqbal.
Most shockingly of all, the attack was filmed by some bystanders – who can be heard laughing. The video was posted on social media. Mr Iqbal described them as a group of “large men”.
Mr Iqbal, a father of five, has been a taxi driver for ten years and lives in the Rose Hill area of Derby. He told the Daily Mail that he was disgusted that the onlookers just laughed and did not intervene to help him, saying, “That was the first time I was ever attacked on the job. It’s made me frightened about who might be sitting behind me in my cab. It seemed like the guy filming it was really enjoying it. He was singing and he even shows his face in the video, I couldn’t believe it. It makes me feel very bad that this was entertainment.
“It was a horrific journey. On the way, the woman put her feet on the dashboard. I politely asked if she could put them down. She didn’t like that and told me they didn’t have any money. I took her to a cash point and asked her to get some out but she said it didn’t work. I carried on driving but she suddenly lunged across me and tried to take the steering wheel. She said she wanted to drive and demanded money from me.
“The guy who hit me was very strong and the punches really rocked me. Luckily, I was just badly bruised but if they’d had a knife or a weapon that might have been it for me. It was crazy. I said just pay me and go but she lunged at me. She grabbed my phone and started to bite. Then she went for me again and bit my arm.
“I tried to stop her but the man with her started to get angry and hit me with two brutal punches. Afterwards, I fell to the floor in agony. The couple ran away before the police got there. I’m surprised nobody’s been charged yet. The police said they can’t see the guy’s face clearly on the video. I don’t think that’s good enough.”
Mr Iqbal has also said that he may stop working as a cabbie – not least because his family are now very frightened when he is out working.
The Derbyshire police have made an arrest in connection with the incident but are asking members of the public with information to contact DC Sarah Parkin on 101.
[Adverts]