Man badly hurt in 'racially aggravated' attack

A man is in hospital with a serious head injury after being attacked with a large branch in what police believe was a racially aggravated assault.

Officers were called at 19:45 BST on Saturday by the ambulance service, which was treating an injured man in the car park of Tesco supermarket on Cangle Road in Haverhill.

Suffolk Police said the victim, a man in his 40s, was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where he remains in a stable condition.

The force is considering if it is linked to a second incident on Saturday where a man was seen with a machete-style weapon near the supermarket.

At about 19:00 on Saturday, a man was walking with his partner on the old railway line footpath when he was approached by a group of young men, police said.

The group of about five people shouted abuse at the man and, when he tried to speak to them, one then hit him on the head with a large branch.

"Officers are dealing with the incident as racially aggravated grievous bodily harm," said a force statement.

At 19:32 police were called to a second incident on Cangle Road where a man was shouting at members of the public while carrying a machete-style weapon.

No-one was injured.

The suspect has been described as a white man wearing a black jumper and black trousers.

The force said it was "exploring possible links" between the two incidents".

Anyone with relevant CCTV, dashcam or doorbell camera footage is asked to contact police.

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