Selina Scott: UK TV broadcaster fights off attackers after she thought she had been stabbed
One of the UK's most well-known broadcasters has been savagely attacked in a brazen daylight robbery in the middle of London.
Selina Scott has revealed she was the victim of a mugging and thought she had been stabbed after a group of people set upon her at a bus stop in London last week.
The former news anchor on ITN said she went into fight mode after being hit in the leg from behind and felt initially that a knife was used.
A daytime trip to a book store in central London's Piccadilly turned into a terrifying incident in central London turned to horror as Ms Scott, 74, was struck on the back of her right knee, before a gang tried to wrestle her backpack away from her.
The group got more than they bargained for however as the TV star fought back and refused to let go of the bag.
Ms Scott battled with the group who were able to unzip the backpack and steal her purse before they ran from the scene.
As Londoners question the rising crime rate in England's capital city, Ms Scott has spoken of her anger that the violent crimes are now being committed with an open disrespect for police and emergency services.
Ms Scott says she felt 'furious' at the lack of a police presence to deter or capture the criminals, after being told that the violent robbing events are 'rife', according to police..
She lost her bank cards, driving licence, and cash in the robbery, and the mugging has raised questions about the Metropolitan Police's failure to tackle crime amid a staggering 23.5 per cent increase in similar thefts this year.
'I'm mentally resilient and physically fit, but if they can attack me in such a brazen way, they can attack anyone. You're left feeling not just traumatised but stupid that you have somehow let it happen,' Ms Scott told the Daily Mail.
'I'm also furious about the lack of police on our streets. No wonder the gang who set about me have a sense of impunity – they can do anything they want because they know no one will stop them.
Ms Scott suffered severe bruising to her leg and was shocked that the offenders were smartly dressed and worked a a s group.
'I am now only too relieved it wasn't a knife they used,' she said..
'While we understand that the victim was frustrated that she couldn't see any police officers on the street, a significant number of officers patrol the West End every day – not just in uniform on foot, but also in plain clothes and in vehicles to have the best opportunity to identify and apprehend suspects,' London police said in a statement.
'We would be happy to talk to the victim to better understand her concerns.'
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