Chip shop manager speaks out after ‘vinegar bottle attack’

A chip shop manager says he is now afraid to work after being attacked with a vinegar bottle by people who were threatening to kill him.
Boss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring Shaban Azam was attacked with a vinegar bottleBoss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring Shaban Azam was attacked with a vinegar bottle
Boss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring Shaban Azam was attacked with a vinegar bottle

Shaban Azam, boss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring, spoke out after being released from Aylesbury’s Stoke Mandeville Hospital – where he spent 13 hours being treated for his injuries.

Mr Azam, who was with his colleague Omar Fathe at the time of the attack, said: “I feel very bad. We are scared to work here because the people were huge. They came to us and said: ‘We will kill you.’”

Shaban said that they came into his Dolphin Square shop three times on Wednesday afternoon – and one of them started throwing metal things from the counter at his face.

Boss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring Shaban Azam was attacked with a vinegar bottle PNL-140409-180246001Boss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring Shaban Azam was attacked with a vinegar bottle PNL-140409-180246001
Boss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring Shaban Azam was attacked with a vinegar bottle PNL-140409-180246001

The first time they came, Shaban was punched – but the attackers left when he threatened to call the police, he said.

Ten minutes later, they returned, hit him and caused him to bleed – and after police arrived and began a search for the alleged attackers, they returned again, Shaban said.

He said they started swearing, but ran off when they heard officers were looking for them.

Shaban said: “My colleague Omar does not want to work. He’s scared of this town. He wants to move out of here because these people are really huge and what they did was really scary.”

Boss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring Shaban Azam was attacked with a vinegar bottle PNL-140409-180316001Boss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring Shaban Azam was attacked with a vinegar bottle PNL-140409-180316001
Boss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring Shaban Azam was attacked with a vinegar bottle PNL-140409-180316001

He said that Omar was in the front of the shop calling police when he was attacked for the second time.

He said: “I have got a really big cut on my face and a damaged artery in my head. It’s really bad.”

Shaban doesn’t have a clue why he was attacked.

He said: “We just opened here three months ago and they want to kill us.”

Boss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring Shaban Azam (bandaged) with Omar Fathe PNL-140409-180303001Boss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring Shaban Azam (bandaged) with Omar Fathe PNL-140409-180303001
Boss of Wilsons Fish & Chips in Tring Shaban Azam (bandaged) with Omar Fathe PNL-140409-180303001

Police spokesman Sarah Spence said: “There has been a verbal altercation between two parties and it is alleged a plastic vinegar bottle was thrown at the head of the victim, causing injury.”

She said a 31-year-old man from Enfield was arrested after officers were called to the aid of Shaban at about 4.40pm on Wednesday. The man has now been released on police bail and will have to return to Watford Police Station on Monday, September 29.

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