A man who was left in a coma following a horrifying acid attack in east London has said he believes he and his cousin were targeted because they are Muslims.

Both Jameel Muhktar and his cousin Resham Khan, an aspiring model, were left with life-changing injuries when a man flung acid through their car window as they waited at a set of traffic lights in Newham.

Mr Muhktar has spoken out for the first time since the ordeal, saying the shocking acid attack was “definitely a hate crime”.

Speaking to Channel 4 news, he said: “It’s definitely a hate crime. I believe it’s something to do with Islamophobia.

“Maybe he’s got it in for Muslims because of the things that have been going on lately. I don’t know if people are trying to retaliate. We’re innocent people. We didn’t deserve that.

“I’ve never seen this guy in my life. I don’t have any problems with anybody. My cousin is 21, she’s a business student. Why would anyone do that to us?”

Mr Muhktar was put in an induced coma following the attack, which took place at around 9.15am on June 21.

His cousin Resham Khan earlier described the “excruciating pain” of the attack, which started when a man approached their car and knocked on the window.

The pair had been out celebrating Ms Khan’s birthday.

Mr Muhktar added: “I opened the window and he had a clear bottle from what I can remember and he squirted it at us. I thought it was water to begin with. I thought it was a practical joke.

“To be honest I didn’t know what I was thinking at the time. I’ve opened the window wondering what he wanted because it was a bit strange that he’d knocked on my window and he just squirted this clear liquid over us which I thought it was water.

“Until my cousin started to scream. I was watching her burning. Next thing you know I’m burning. The guy’s run off.

“I realised then at that time this is not water. We’ve been either acid attacked or ammonia, or something.”

Mr Muhktar tried to drive away after both he and his cousin realised they had been the victims of an acid attack, but crashed into a nearby barrier.

He said passersby started throwing buckets of water over the pair when they saw them screaming, with one man even rushing to grab a hose pipe.

They both suffered severe burns to their face and body.

Mr Muhktar added: “My shorts are dripping like water. They’re falling apart, like acid. My t-shirt is all melting on me. My trainers are melting on my feet.

“I’ve started ripping her clothes off, ripping my own clothes off because I’m thinking to myself, if this sticks to us it might be more dangerous.

“Out of panic I’ve stripped naked. I’ve stripped her as much as I could. She’s screaming and crying. I’m screaming. I’m kicking on people’s doors.”

Police are hunting John Tomlin in connection with the attack.

Mr Tomlin, who is known to frequent Canning Town, is described as white, around 6ft tall, with a stocky build and short fair hair.

Detective Superintendent Neil Matthews, said: "I would like to reassure the public that our continued focus remains on finding the person responsible for this horrendous act of violence.

"We will continue to progress these enquiries as quickly as humanly possible and fully understand concerns that they should be brought to justice quickly."

Nearly £30,000 has been raised in an online fundraising page for the pair set up since the attack.