Third man arrested for attempted murder of NHS worker in racially motivated car attack

Arrests follow attack on 21-year-old man on 22 July

Protesters march down a street in Bristol on 2 August, 2020, after a racially-aggravated attack on a 21-year-old NHS worker in the city. (Claire Hayhurst/PA Wire)

A third man has been detained on suspicion of attempted murder following a racially-motivated attack on an NHS worker in Bristol last month.

The victim, a 21-year-old musician who only wants to be known as K or his stage name Kdogg, was hit by a car after finishing a shift at Southmead Hospital in Bristol on 22 July.

The incident, which took place near the hospital, left him with serious injuries, including a broken leg, nose and cheekbone.

Police arrested a 22-year-old man on Sunday, the day after two 18-year-old men were taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the attack.

All three men have been released under investigation.

Superintendent Andy Bennett, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “The dedicated team investigating this incident are committed to carrying out a thorough investigation and I hope this third arrest provides further reassurance to the victim and the wider community about how seriously we’re treating this incident.”

The police believe the incident was racially-aggravated because of the racist language allegedly used by those in the car that struck K.

As a result of his injuries, K is unable to walk without crutches and needs regular hospital treatment.

The charity Stand Against Racism and Inequality (Sari) is supporting his family.

A GoFundMe page set up last week to help K during his period of recovery has so far raised more than £45,000, nine times more than the initial target.

On Sunday, protesters walked down Monks Park Avenue in Bristol in support of K, carrying placards referring to him and the Black Lives Matter movement.

They later left the signs at the scene of the attack, which is located on the same road.

Additional reporting from PA