Food delivery moped riders blockade Parliament Square in protest against acid attacks

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Hundreds of moped riders brought Westminster to a standstill by staging a major protest against a recent spate of acid attacks across London.

Activists descended on Parliament Square on Tuesday afternoon to call for a crackdown on acid attacks and motorcycle thefts.

Couriers and delivery drivers met at Altab Ali Park, in Whitechapel, at midday before riding in convoy to central London.

A series of motorcycle crime prevention groups met outside the Ace Café on the North Circular before travelling into Westminster for the protest, which began at about 2pm.

Moped riders used their vehicles to block up the roads around Parliament Square and beeped their horns during the protest.

Jabed Hussain, who was the victim of an acid attack in the capital last week, led the delivery drivers’ protest and carried a huge banner which read: “Stop acid attacks, bike theft and motorcycle crime.”

Mr Hussain was one of five people who were injured when they were targeted by two moped riding attackers in a 90-minute rampage in London last Thursday.

Motorcycle delivery drivers and motorcyclists take part in a demonstration in Parliament Square
AFP/Getty Images

Deliveroo and UberEats, two takeaway delivery firms operating in the capital, confirmed one of their employees were among those attacked.

On Monday, a 16-year-old boy denied any involvement in the rampage when he appeared at Stratford Youth Court charged with 13 offences.

Ashraf Ahmed, 38, a Deliveroo driver from Bromley, said he was threatened with a knife while he was out on his moped two days ago.

Deliveroo rider Ashraf Ahmed

He said: "I have kids, I have a wife, I have my family and no-one’s bothered.

“I'm scared. We want to stop acid attacks, motorbike crime. That's why we are here.

“Two days ago I was attacked with a knife and he said 'give me your wallet and your mobile phone'.

“The knife is pressed at my chest and you're scared. I think it was about 12 inches.

Food delivery riders demonstrate in Parliament Square
PA

“Luckily he'd not stolen my bike. It was very scary.

“We pay for the bikes ourselves and I lost mine three or four months ago. I'm on my third bike now.

“Police are doing everything but the Government hasn't given them any power.”

Ian Parkinson, 55, who lives in central London, said: "Teenagers are doing it for fun. Those guys come in the middle of the day and knock you off your bike in public.

Ian Parkinson, who took part in the protest at Parliament Square

“I've had three bikes nicked in one year and the insurance [company] doesn't want to speak to me.

“I'm the victim. We make £400 - £500 per week, that is what we make at the end of the day. We're low paid.

“[The attacks] are not about racism, we've got everybody working for us - it's a way to make a living and they [the attackers] are taking it away from us.

“I love to see the kids when I deliver pizza. We deliver happiness, they deliver terror. It's bad for London".

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