Thugs attack asylum seeker

Abdul Naiyazi, pictured, who fled his country to settle in Bradford more than two years ago, needed hospital treatment after he was repeatedly kicked and punched at the petrol station where he is a cashier.

Mr Naiyazi, 25, was working alone at the Esso garage in Armley Road, Armley, late on Saturday night when he was attacked.

Two men approached the security booth and asked to buy a packet of crisps.

"They tried to be funny with me, asking for different things again and again," said Mr. Naiyazi, of Otley Road, Under-cliffe.

"A customer was waiting to pay for petrol. I was shouting through the window for them to leave so I could serve someone else, but they pretended not to hear."

Mr Naiyazi said he went outside to remonstrate with the two men but was attacked.

"They just started beating me up for no reason," he said.

"They were kicking me in the back and stomach and punching me in the head. They also hit me with a bottle.

"It went on for about five minutes but it seemed like forever. I was absolutely terrified."

The thugs smashed a window before fleeing.

But they returned minutes later with three other people and smashed another window.

One of the men then kicked in the door to the garage shop.

Mr Naiyazi added: "He came inside and started running towards me.

"He had a knife and said if I called the police he would kill me. Another customer came in and he ran off."

Mr Naiyazi was taken to Leeds General Infirmary where he was treated for two dislocated fingers, cuts and bruises.

He said: "I fled Afghanistan because I was terrified of the Taliban, but this was a really frightening experience.

Dave Cookson, who runs the garage, said: "It was a shocking and frightening thing to happen and I feel for him. But I will have to give him a written warning because he flaunted all the safety regulations, which are there for his protection, by not locking the door properly and leaving the premises."