‘Faith hate’ attack
Rev. Noble Samuel, a Christian minister at a United Reformed Church in West London, has been attacked by three men on his way to the TV studio where he films a gospel programme. Mr Samuel was born in Pakistan and moved to Britain 15 years ago.
He presents an hour-long live Asian Gospel Show on satellite television. He does not set out to be confrontational, but in recent weeks his views have been aggressively challenged by Muslim callers in a broadcast phone-in.
The incident, which police describe as a ‘faith hate’ crime, happened when a car pulled in front of Mr Samuel and a man came over to ask for directions. The attacker opened the car door and started punching him and trying to hit his head on the steering wheel. Two other men stole his laptop and Bible. The assailants warned him: ‘If you go back to the studio, we’ll break your legs’.
Following the attack, Rev. Samuel went ahead with his show at studios that are owned by local Muslim businessman Tahir Ali, who went on air later that day to condemn the attacks, said a report from Barnabas Fund.
