A gang carrying machetes that has been violently mugging cyclists for their bikes in and around Richmond Park in London has been caught on camera for the first time.
The attacks, which included the mugging of pro cyclist Alexandar Richardson, appear to have spiked around Richmond Park in the last week and have involved extreme violence and threats.
Alpecin-Fenix rider Richardson took to Instagram (post below) to explain what had happened to him last Thursday when his bike was stolen and he was left injured after being dragged along by attackers on a moped.
The 31-year-old said while he initially tried to keep
hold of his bike, he eventually let it go when one of his attackers produced a
machete.
“Was finishing my training around 3pm when two motor
bikes with four men and balaclavas started following me,” he said, adding he
knew they wanted his bike so he tried to sprint away towards a nearby café.
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“They simply rode one of the motor bikes into me at
60kph. I came off the bike and the first motor bike lost control. I held onto
my bike however the second motor bike then dragged me and the bike along the
floor for another 100 metres. After this they pulled out a 15 inch machete at
which point I thought better and let the bike go.”
Following the attack on Richardson, there have been reports to the police of three others, the latest yesterday at about 5pm. However, some Twitter users say they are aware of further muggings for bikes in and around the park in the last week.
A spokesman for London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed
the latest attack yesterday, this time by two men on one moped. It added as one
of the attacker’s was reported to be armed with a machete, armed police
officers responded to the incident.
The police have now increased patrols in the park, with the Met sharing images of police cars patrolling the park over the last 24 hours.
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