Who is this vile thug? Shocking CCTV images show the moment crazed commuter shoves 23-year-old woman on to Tube tracks



Man pushed stranger on to track at Leicester Square station following 'row about his hat'



Victim, 23, was at risk of electrocution and being hit by oncoming train

British Transport Police appeal for information on 'reckless act'

This is the shocking moment a crazed commuter launched an apparently random attack on a woman - pushing her on to the tracks of the London Underground.

The 23-year-old victim struck up a brief conversation with the thug and following a trivial row over the man's hat, he turned and shoved her on to the rails on the Northern Line at Leicester Square.

She only missed the live rail by inches, and was able to pull herself back onto the platform with the help of other travellers before the next train came down the platform.

Injuries to her side were so severe, witnesses initially thought she had been stabbed.

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Tipping point: The vicious and dangerous attack was allegedly sparked by a 'trivial' row about the man's hat

Dangerous: The man, in a fit of rage, violently shoves the woman onto the northbound Northern Line track

The attacker risked his victim's life in two ways: She could have been electrocuted by the track's live middle wire, or she could have been hit by an oncoming train

The incident - highlighted on the BBC's six-part The Tube documentary on Monday night - shows the very real dangers faced by commuters and staff each day.

British Transport Police are still hunting the man behind the vicious assault, describing him as smartly dressed.

They said the incident stemmed from a short argument about the attacker's hat.

The incident took place on Friday, September 16, at about 11.20pm, but police are so keen to find the man they have re-appealed again for more information on the back of the BBC's documentary.

Do you know this man? British Transport Police are keen to trace the suspect



The girl is comforted seconds after the incident: The BBC were filming in the station at the time of the attack

Treatment: The woman is removed by paramedics following the attack

The woman suffered a wound to her side and was taken to hospital, while both platforms of the Northern Line were shut for the rest of the evening.

BTP Detective Sergeant Fin Egan, the investigating officer, said: 'This was a dangerous and reckless act which could have had grave consequences had a Tube train been approaching.

'The victim suffered a nasty cut to her side as she landed on the rails, but was able to pull herself back up onto the platform.

'The platform was busy at that time and I am appealing for anyone who recognises the man in the images or who witnessed the incident to get in contact.'

As the victim rolls onto the track, her friend grabs the attacker in a headlock in a bid to stop him escaping

Passengers start rushing to the woman's aid as she calls for help from the track

Passengers try to restrain the suspect and a Tube worker joins the scene to help the woman

The woman stands up and prepares to get off the track - if a train had been coming this could have been fatal

Samaritans: The woman is lifted off the Leicester Square train lines. She has a large gash on her side which witnesses initially believe is a stab wound



Trains were cancelled for the rest of the evening as the Northbound platform became a crime-scene CCTV: BBC camera crews were on hand to witness the aftermath of the attack

The man in the images is described as white, aged about 40 with a thin build.

He was wearing a blue shirt, a black jacket and a black wide brimmed hat. He also wore orange/yellow tinted glasses. He spoke with a European accent.

Footage of the aftermath of the incident can been seen in Episode 1 of The Tube, available on BBC iPlayer.

Anyone who knows the man pictured in the image or who has any information about the incident can contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.