Brighton detectives ask for help identifying witness to racist attack

Detectives are trying to trace a man who may have seen a racist attack on a Brighton shopkeeper.

Sussex Police has published a CCTV picture of the potential witness to the incident in at the One Stop shop in Park Road, Coldean.

The force emphasised that they believe that the man was an innocent bystander to an incident that they are investigating.

It happened at about 12.30pm on Sunday 22 April and followed an argument between the shopkeeper and a man who had gone into the shop.

Sussex Police said that officers were investigating the possibility that the row related to a previous incident involving the suspect’s teenage daughter in the store a few minutes beforehand.

The assailant left in a car before police arrived.

There were no reported injuries to anyone and nothing was stolen in either incident, the force said.

A 38-year-old man from Coldean was later arrested near by on suspicion of racially aggravated assault.

He was released on police bail until Thursday 14 June while inquiries continue.

The potential witness was described as white and aged about 25 to 35 years old. He was wearing what appears to be a Brighton and Hove Albion top.

Detective Constable Aran Boyt said: “We would like to emphasise that this man was in no way connnected with either incident.

“He was simply a bystander in the shop but we think he may have valuable information.

“We are naturally reluctant to release images of witnesses but we feel that in this case his evidence could really help the investigation and all our efforts to trace him have so far not met with success.”

The man – or anyone who recognises him – is asked to contact Sussex Police by calling 101.