Terrifying moment moped gang attack biker with fire extinguisher captured on helmet-mounted camera

Police hunt gang after string of moped crimes with seven offences in Barking and Dagenham alone
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This is the terrifying moment a gang of moped thieves attack a rider with a fire extinguisher and knock him to the ground.

The victim, 58, was riding his motorcycle in east London before he was surrounded by seven thugs on four mopeds.

Shocking footage, captured on the the victim's helment-mounted camera, shows the man being attacked with a fire extinguisher before falling to the floor as they attempt to steal his bike.

But the brazen attack, in Roden Street, Ilford, was unsuccessful and the thugs fled the scene at about 5.15pm on Tuesday, April 18.

The terrifying clip shows the man being attacked by a group of seven thugs on mopeds
Metropolitan Police

One day earlier, police say there were seven similar offences reported in Barking and Dagenham alone, and detectives believe they were carried out by the same suspects.

The attack is the latest in a string of "moped-enabled" crimes in the capital.

Campaigners have called for the Met to be given greater powers to tackle the problem which has rocketed to the level of one crime per hour.

The call came after a series of recent incidents and new figures showing there were 11,389 moped-enabled crimes in London last year, a seven-fold increase on 2015.

On Tuesday last week, moped thieves hounded a scooter rider 'for miles' in an effort to steal his vehicle before their victim crashed, suffering serious injuries.

The 19-year-old was left sprawled on the roadside terrified and in agony after the attack on Tuesday, May 16.

In another incident, a masked thug wielding a hammer and a fellow moped raider targeted terrified pedestrians in the West End on Thursday, May 4.

The four “brazen” thieves were photographed as they targeted pedestrians in Langham Street, yards from the entrance to the BBC Radio 1 studio.

The scene of the incident in Dagenham last week (Kestutis Paukstys )
Kestutis Paukstys

On the latest attack, detective Sergeant Dean Grafton, from the East Area Command Unit based in Ilford, said: “We are appealing for any information as to the identity and whereabouts of this gang that are clearly targeting motorcyclists in the east London area.

“They are often seen in pairs on mopeds or scooters and with a fire extinguisher to distract their victim with a view to stealing the motorbikes. If anyone has recorded video footage of the group, please can they contact us.”

Three teenagers, two 15-year-olds and one 16-year-old, were arrested in connection to the theft and have been released while officers investigate.

Any witnesses or anyone who has any information is urged to contact the investigation team on 07766 247747, or via 101, or by tweeting @MetCC.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org

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