UK: Asian man stabbed in 'racially motivated' attack in Tesco store

A 24-year-old Asian man has been attacked with a knife in a Tesco store, in what police have described as a "racially motivated" attack.

The assault took place at 1.40pm on Wednesday (14 January) in the supermarket in Mold, Flintshire.

Witnesses described seeing a man brandishing a huge knife "like something out of Crocodile Dundee," as he chased the young Asian man down one of the aisles in the store.

One bystander said he heard shouts of "white power."

The victim, from Yorkshire, was seriously wounded and was taken to hospital, though it was reported that his injuries are "not life-threatening."

Colin Cooper, of Leeswood, told the North Wales Daily Post: "I heard a lot of shouting to start with.

"The next thing I saw was one lad chasing another lad with a knife. It was huge - it was like something out of Crocodile Dundee. They called for security over the loudspeaker. Then 30 seconds or a minute later this lad was being helped by a couple of staff saying 'get me an ambulance'.

"The lad attacked was Asian. He had his hands in front of his stomach. I couldn't tell whether his hands were cut from protecting himself or if he'd been stabbed," he added.

Customers who had been inside the supermarket at the time of the incident were allowed through the cordon to exit the car park, but many said they were unaware of what had happened.

DCI Alun Oldfield of Wrexham CID, who is leading the investigation, said: "At 1.40pm this afternoon a 24-year-old man was shopping in the store when he was attacked.

"Initial indications are this is a racially motivated attack and as such management of the community impact will feature significantly in order to provide public reassurance."

He urged people not to assume that the attack in anti-Islamic following heightened tensions after the recent Paris attacks by al-Qaeda, following speculation on social media.

He added: "I understand speculation is circulating via social media but this will not help our investigation and is distressing to family and friends of the victim and so I'd ask for due consideration whilst investigators speak with witnesses to ascertain the full circumstances of this incident.

"North Wales Police are treating the matter as attempted murder and if you witnessed the attack please contact Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and quote reference S006316."

A 25-year-old local man was arrested inside the store on suspicion of attempted murder and was taken to a police station nearby.