7:00pm Wednesday 25th October 2006
By Charlotte Bradshaw
A TAXI boss has called for action to protect drivers after a cabbie claimed he was beaten up and had his car vandalised in a racist' attack.
Mohammad Ahmed said he was assaulted and his car doors were smashed after he picked up a fare in Townhouse Road, Nelson, in the early hours of Saturday.
Police confirmed they were investigating an attack on a taxi driver which could have been racially motivated.
The cabbie was working for Nelson-based Cavalier Taxis and said the weekend's attack was the first time he had experienced racism.
He said he was left terrified after the alleged attack which he said left him needing hospital treatment and his car in need of hundreds of pounds worth of repairs.
Father-of-four Mr Ahmed, 33, said: "It was terrifying. I was very scared and I am just glad I managed to escape.
"Something needs to be done to protect drivers."
The chairman of the Pendle Taxi Association and owner of Brunswick Street-based Cavalier Taxis, Mohammad Akram, condemned the incident.
He has called for an urgent meeting with the police and Pendle Council.
He said: "This is the worst case of alleged racial abuse I have seen against a taxi driver in my 20 years of being a driver.
"Incidents like this are not something we will stand for and we just hope there is not a more serious incident in the future."
Last year cabbies threatened to quit the streets of Pendle after a driver claimed he was beaten up and had his cab vandalised in a racist attack. Then police launched a crackdown after a number of cabs were attacked in Colne.
A spokesman for Lancashire police said: "We are investigating an alleged attack on a driver who suffered facial injuries.
"The taxi doors were also smashed. The taxi driver managed to escape and ran off, as did another driver.
"An ambulance was called and the taxi driver was taken to hospital.
"There appears to have been a racist element. Forensics are having a look at the car."
He added: "We would appeal for anyone who was in the area at the time to contact police with information on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
l A 23-year-old man from Colne has been arrested and released on police bail pending further inquiries.
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