London: George Galloway has been released from hospital after being assaulted on a London street, police have said.
The MP suffered a suspected broken jaw and rib as well as facial bruising when he was attacked by a man shouting about the Holocaust on Friday evening, his spokesman said.
The attack was believed to have been related to comments Galloway recently made about the conflict in Gaza. Galloway was posing for pictures in Notting Hill in west London when the attack took place. He was treated overnight at St Mary’s hospital.
A 39-year-old man arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm remained in police custody, the Metropolitan police said.
“The victim of the assault was taken to a central London hospital for treatment to his injuries. He was discharged from hospital this morning, Saturday August 30. Detectives from Kensington Chelsea are investigating,” a spokesman said.
The Respect party released a photo taken of Galloway’s battered face as he was on his way to hospital.
The tweeted picture showed two red lumps on his right temple. “The Respect party thanks all wellwishers,” the accompanying message said.
Galloway’s spokesman said he did not know whether the attacker was an Israeli, an EDL supporter or had some other motivation for attacking the MP.
The MP was interviewed earlier this month by West Yorkshire police following a speech in Leeds in which he claimed Bradford was an Israel-free zone.
The spokesman said Galloway, who represents Bradford West, had described himself as being “in a pretty bad shape”.
In 2008, Galloway was pelted with a rubber stress ball as he was campaigning in an open-top bus in London. He received medical treatment but was not taken to hospital. A man was arrested and cautioned over the incident.
