Video of random street attack shocks Londoners

Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY | USATODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Man punches teen from behind, knocks her unconscious British Police released video of a man following a 16-year-old girl and punching her once in the head from behind, knocking her unconscious. The girl was taken to the hospital and suffered from bruising and cuts to her face.

Police in London have released graphic video of a teenager being knocked unconscious in an apparent random act of violence at mid-day.

The attack occurred in Plaistow, east London, last Tuesday around 12:30 p.m., the Daily Mail reported in a story headlined: "Is this the most brutal thug in Britain?"

In the video taken by a closed-circuit TV camera, the attacker, who appears to be around 25 to 30 years old, takes a massive swing with his right fist from behind, throwing the girl to the pavement and knocking her out.

The Mail said the 16-year-old was treated at a hospital with bruises and cuts to her head and face, but was released the same day after a series of tests.

The unidentified victim told London24 that she could not remember the incident and simply woke up with a bad migraine in the ambulance.

"I hope he does get caught so he doesn't do it again to another person," she told ITV's London Tonight.

Police also released shots from other cameras that indicated that the attacker was a black man, about 6-feet-tall with muscular build and a shaved head. He was wearing a baseball jacket and jeans.