Racist attack on taxi driver
11:00am Tuesday 12th December 2006 in News By Telegraph newsdesk
MUHAMMAD NAZIR
A TAXI driver was left with a broken nose and shattered teeth after a racist attack in the centre of Colne.
Single father-of-six Muhammad Nazir, 56, of Poplar Street, Nelson, was heading back to the taxi rank in Market Street, Colne, when he had to stop outside the Yorkshire Bank for two women who had run out into the road at about 11.50pm on Friday.
Police then said a man opened the car door, shouted racial abuse and punched Mr Nazir.
The self-employed Hackney carriage driver said that he was now suffering nightmares about being attacked, and that he was considering giving up his job of three years because it had become too dangerous.
He said: "Whoever did this really hurt me. I'm in a lot of pain and I can't eat anything because my mouth hurts so much.
"I've had no sleep because every time I fall asleep I feel like people are coming to attack me.
"I'm not a young man and I'm thinking now that driving taxis is just too risky.
"All I'm trying to do is support my family and provide a good service, but we have so many problems on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights that we are all frightened."
Police said that although taxi drivers did suffer regular racial abuse and stones thrown at their cars, physical assaults were rare.
Officers are studying CCTV footage of the incident and are looking for a man thought to be in his early 20s.
Anyone with any information should contact Pennine Division CID on 01282 472282.
