London riots: Man sought over double attack in Newham
A man attacked a retired teacher minutes before robbing a mobile phone from another man during the recent riots in east London, police have said.
The suspect punched the 69-year-old victim and knocked him unconscious as he came out of Ladbrokes on Green Street, Newham, on 8 August.
About 10 minutes later he grabbed a man around the neck on St Stephens Road, forcing him to throw his phone.
The suspect is an Asian male aged between 16 and 20, police said.
The pensioner was leaving Ladbrokes at about 18:30 BST when the suspect pushed him into the shutters of a shop before punching him in the stomach.
As the victim lay unconscious, a group of people who had entered the shop and ransacked it, walked out over him.
Passers-by later helped the retired teacher who suffered a swollen and cut eye, a cut to his nose and a swollen lip.
Police said the suspect then approached an Asian man on St Stephens Road minutes later and grabbed him by the neck.
The victim, who was on his mobile phone, had a brief struggle with his attacker before throwing the phone, which the suspect picked up and kept.
Acting Det Insp Ian Fleming said: "These were unprovoked attacks, one on an innocent elderly gentleman who sustained serious injuries and another on an innocent young man, both of whom were just going about their day-to-day activity.
"There would have been lots of people in the areas at the times of the incidents and I appeal for any witnesses to come forward and assist police in catching those responsible."