By Eric King-
Two commuters were attacked when he was smashed over the head with a hammer after refusing to give a man a cigarette, say horrified eyewitnesses.
Officers scrambled to the scene and arrested a 26-year-old man from East Ham on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm, common assault and possession of an offensive weapon, according to British Transport Police.
Eyewitnesses say a hammer-wielding attacker “whacked” the victim over the head after he asked for a cigarette and was told “no”. The victim was said to be a normal guy on his way to work when he and another man were attacked in a concourse at Stratford station
The assailant was tackled by about six eyewitnesses, “stamped on” and held until police officers arrived to take him into custody.Twitter user wrote: “Wow wow wow … walk out of Stratford station to someone wacking man up with a hammer … ffs over a cigarette too.”
One witness told The Eye Of Media.Com that the attacker had claimed the victim had been rude in the manner and tone of his refusal of a cigarette. The idea of attacking a man for refusing to give a cigarette is ridiculous. However, if the victim was unduly rude to the attacker, there is a lesson to learn that it is unnecessary to be rude to somebody asking for a cigarette when a simple and polite know should be enough.
A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “Shortly before 6am this morning, officers were called to Stratford station in east London after reports two men were assaulted by a man in the station concourse.
“Police were quickly on scene and a 26-year-old man from East Ham was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm, common assault and possession of an offensive weapon.
“During the arrest a hammer was recovered. The man has been taken to police custody.”Both have been taken to hospital for treatment to non-life threatening injuries.
“The first victim received a laceration to his head as well as a suspected fractured shoulder.
picture:twitter