Officers are appealing for information following an incident at last weekend’s Notting Hill Carnival, in which a woman’s top lip was bitten off by an unknown man.
The incident took place on the first day of Carnival at approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 25 August on Portobello Road, close to the junction with Golborne Road, W10.
The victim was talking to some women before being approached by a man she didn’t know. He told her ‘I’m the devil’ before leaning forward and biting off her top lip.
The victim, bleeding heavily and in shock, approached police officers, who escorted her to the nearest first aid post. She was then taken to a west London hospital where her injuries were deemed life-changing. Surgeons operated on her facial injuries but she will require further surgery in the future.
The suspect is described as a black man with short black hair and of muscular build, wearing a black t-shirt.
Officers are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.
T/DCI Driss Hayoukane of the Notting Hill Carnival post investigation unit, said: “This was a horrific incident on a woman who has suffered life-changing injuries requiring extensive surgery. The man who did this is clearly a violent and dangerous individual and I am determined that we identify and apprehend him as soon as possible.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 using the reference 5483/29Aug19.
