'I crashed to the ground thinking... this man is going to kick me to death': George Galloway reveals his terror after attack in Notting Hill - and how he led police to suspect

George Galloway was left with broken rib when he was assaulted in street



He also suffered a badly bruised face following violent attack in Notting Hill

Below, the Respect MP reveals how he feared for his life during incident



I was walking down the street in Notting Hill in broad daylight and getting into my car when two Moroccan guys approached me.

One of them said he was leaving Britain the next day and would love a photo with me for his cafe back home. I stood in the road shaking hands with him as his friend took a picture.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a man powering towards me like a bat out of hell.

Scroll down for video



Politician: George Galloway was left with a broken rib and bruising when he was assaulted by a man in street

He laid into me and was effing and blinding about the Holocaust. He looked like the type who works out and moved very fast. He punched me so many times I kept thinking, ‘When is this going to stop?’

But it didn’t. I went into what boxers call ‘peekaboo style’ like American heavyweight Floyd Patterson when he fought Muhammad Ali, covering my face and eyes.

He got frustrated his punches weren’t getting through and kicked me back towards the kerb.

I lost my footing and staggered backwards, crashing into a grille on a Moroccan delicatessen I had eaten at a few hours earlier. I was on the ground thinking ‘this man is going to kick me to death’.

Battered: Mr Galloway, pictured after the assault, said the man moved toward him like 'a bat out of hell'

Tweet: The Respect Party tweeted this comment with the above picture of Mr Galloway following the assault

He was so enraged he got on top of me and eventually landed a haymaker right on my jaw. I felt a terrible crack and sickening thud. It went on for about three minutes – a long time when punches are raining down on you. Luckily, the two Moroccan guys pulled him off.

My attacker calmly walked across the road and I drove up the road behind him. I was in a bad way but I was determined he wouldn’t get away with it. I called 999 and described him to police.

He knew I was behind him. I slowed down and the police told me to stop following him. I pulled the car over and saw him go down a side street.

While I was talking to the police, he reappeared and walked over to a bus stop.



Scene of the crime: Mr Galloway was attacked in Golborne Road (pictured) in Notting Hill, West London

At this point a police van hurtled round the corner with four police officers in it. Three were women. It was like Cagney and Lacey.

I shouted, ‘He is getting on the No 23 bus’ and the police drove into the middle of the road to stop it.

The policewomen bravely piled on to the bus, and brought a man out with handcuffs on.

'I have no idea why it happened, though I suspect my attacker was a thug from an extreme Right-wing group '



I have no idea why it happened, though I suspect my attacker was a thug from an extreme Right-wing group.

Regardless of his motives, I have no regrets about speaking out on issues like Israel and the Middle East.

We live in a democracy, and as someone who has been elected as an MP on six occasions, I have a right to voice my opinions.

And like other politicians who have suffered similar threats and attacks, I am entitled to receive a degree of protection from the State so I can continue to do so.