Bately car ramming: Man charged with attack on soldier outside nightclub on New Year’s Day

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A man has been charged with running over a soldier outside a nightclub on New Year’s Day.

Hamza Ali Hussain, 23, is accused of ramming a Mercedes into the man outside TBC in Batley, Yorkshire.

He was due to appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Two men aged 21 and 27 have been arrested and released pending further investigation.

The 21-year-old victim, named locally as Joshua Adams-Mitchell, remains in hospital, where his family said doctors have found a bleed on the brain.

More than £12,000 has so far been donated to a fundraising page to help the Yorkshire regiment serviceman recover from injuries including a fractured cheek bone, eye socket and bruising to his face and body.

West Yorkshire Police said the incident happened at round 4.45am on 1 January, as clubbers celebrated the start of 2019.

Tommy Robinson and other far-right figures have circulated claims that the ramming was a “terrorist attack”.

But West Yorkshire Police said there was no evidence to support allegations the man was targeted because of his service in the British Army.

Chief Superintendent Julie Sykes said: “Since New Year’s Day, we have received a significant amount of intelligence, evidence and accounts from eyewitnesses and members of the public which has assisted with our ongoing investigation.

“We have examined CCTV from inside the nightclub, outside the premises and in and around the area as part of our enquiries.

“I would like to reiterate, due to continued speculation, that this incident is not believed to be racially motivated and there is no evidence to support the victim was targeted due to his service in the army.

“I would continue to encourage witnesses and members of the public who have any information to come forward and speak to the police.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police via 101 quoting crime reference number 13190000498 or information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.