Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a man was brutally attacked at Waterloo Station while crying and asking strangers for cigarettes.
The attack took place at 10.50pm on Thursday, November 1, but so far police have been unable to identify the suspect and are now appealing for help.
The victim, a 27-year-old man, was standing at the bottom of the steps at the Victory Arch main entrance asking for cigarettes and was ‘seen crying although he was not causing any concern and appeared harmless’, according to police.
Officers say a woman took offence at him asking for cigarettes and started shouting at him before a man intervened and punched him in the face following him to nearby Mepham Street, leaving the victim on the floor with a ‘serious head injury’.
He is described as a white man aged between 20 and 30, six feet two inches tall, with a large, stocky build, short cropped hair and clean shaven. He wore a bright red Adidas jacket or hooded top, with a white logo in the middle, blue jeans and white trainers and carried a black gym bag and spoke with a ‘southern English / Cockney accent’.
Detective Constable Alex Atkinson, from Lambeth CID, said: “The victim was standing at the bottom of the main entrance to Waterloo Station and asking anyone who passed by for a spare cigarette.
“The victim appeared emotional and may have stood out.
“He was shouted at by a woman before then being involved in a heated conversation with a separate man.
“The pair have moved towards Mepham Street where the victim sustained a very serious head injury.
“Were you there? Did you see anything that can help police?
“We are keen to hear from anyone who saw what took place or aftermath.
“Equally we are keen to trace the woman who first spoke with the man.
“If you have information please call police on 101 quoting cad 8498/01Nov or Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.”
You can also tweet police via @MetCC