Man assaulted on petrol station forecourt near O2 Academy

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of assault following the beating of a man at a petrol station was caught on CCTV.

The owner of the Gulf Service Station on Bristol Street (a short walk from the O2 Academy) released CCTV footage of the attack on Facebook.

The footage shows two men repeatedly booting the 25-year-old victim’s head against a petrol pump, leaving him with a fractured skull and eye socket.

The attack happened at 4.30am on Saturday

The victim is seen in the CCTV footage trying to flee from his attackers, however he falls and is kicked and punched repeatedly by two Asian men while he holds his hands up.

After the victim falls unconscious, a woman tries to step in to help, but is forced to flee when one of the attackers jabs the victim in the throat.

A second attacker is seen rifling through the victim’s pockets.

In hope of catching the offenders, Pritesh Pattni, manager of the petrol station posted the footage on Facebook.

Pattni told The Sun: “It is the most shocking, savage attack I have ever seen.

“I was not at the petrol station at the time but my staff said that a taxi pulled up with three men inside.

“They started having words with a group of men and then punches were exchanged. They chased one of the men onto the forecourt and he fell over.

“He was punched and kicked against the petrol pump. It was sickening the way he was attacked while lying unconscious.

“The attackers were Asian and black. I don’t know if it was racially motivated or not. I have passed the footage onto the police who are investigating.

“I understand the victim was taken to hospital and suffered a fractured skull and eye socket. He could have easily been killed.”

CCTV footage which was released on Facebook

West Midlands Police have since arrested two men aged 19 and 21 on suspicion of assault and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A spokesperson from West Midlands Police, said: “Two men have been arrested and bailed pending further enquiries and we are yet to trace a further two men who we believe were involved in the attack.

“We believe that someone will know the men and would appeal for them to come forward.

“Our enquiries continue and we would ask the men in the footage to do the right thing and hand themselves in; it is only a matter of time before we come knocking at your door.

“The footage is extremely distressing to watch but fortunately the victim continues to recover from his injuries.”

Anyone with any information is urged to contact West Midlands Police on 101.