Man left for dead after being beaten with 'glass bottles and bricks' in 'racist Glasgow attack'

Daily Record

23-04-2025

Naveed Akhtar, 27, was with four friends when they were attacked by a gang of around 10 to 15 people in Castlemilk on Friday night.
A man was left for dead after a masked gang beat him with "glass bottles, bricks and sticks" in a "racist attack" in Glasgow.
Naveed Akhtar was with four friends when they were battered by a gang of around 10 to 15 people on Tormusk Road in Castlemilk on Friday night.
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His friends managed to escape, but the masked gang launched a brutal attack on Naveed, 27, which left him fearing he was going to die.
Naveed says his friends were also assaulted the previous day in the same area, with his friend's car also being "vandalised".
He told Glasgow Live: "They were wearing black clothing and had masks on their faces. They started beating me up and mostly hit me over the head with glass bottles and bricks.
"They hit me with sticks as well. I was so scared and thought I was going to die. They didn't stop until they thought I was dead or unconscious.
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"A lot of people were shouting at them to stop. A man and woman stopped their car when they saw what was happening and that's when the group ran away. I'm lucky to have survived."
Police and paramedics were called and Naveed was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment before being discharged the following day.
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He added: "They just came out of nowhere and started hitting us. It didn't cross my mind that something like this would ever happen.
"I had no involvement or issue with them before this happened, I don't know who they are. I can't see any reason other than racism why they attacked me."
Opening up on the impact the ordeal has had on him mentally, Naveed added: "I am very nervous and depressed. When I see a group of people now, I feel like they are going to grab me and start beating me up. In the evening, I am anxious about leaving the house in case something happens again.
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"They were able to attack an innocent person, unprovoked, and tried to kill me - I don't want them to be able to do this to any other person. They need to be caught.
"Please try to be careful if you are going out at night time, be vigilant because you don't know who could attack you, without any reason. What I'd say to the people in Scotland is to stop this racism - we are very worried."
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Police Scotland confirmed an investigation has been launched following the serious assault.
A spokesperson said: "Around 11.45pm on Friday, 11 April, 2025, we received a report of a serious assault in the Hoddam Avenue area of Glasgow. A 27-year-old man was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for treatment. A vehicle was also vandalised. Enquiries are ongoing."
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson added: "We received a call at 23.57 on 11 April 2025 to attend an incident on Tormusk Road, Castlemilk. An ambulance was dispatched to the scene and one patient was transported to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital."