British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for the public’s assistance in identifying a man from CCTV images after a serious assault on a train between St Albans and Luton Airport Parkway.
A 38-year-old man, from Bedford, was left with multiple injuries following the incident, in the early hours of Wednesday, 17 June.
Sergeant Stephen Bartlett said: “The victim was travelling on his own on a Bedford-bound train in the early hours of the morning. As the train arrived at St Albans, he noticed another man sleeping close by. Fearing the man was going to miss his stop, he woke him. The man reacted angrily resulting in the victim moving to another carriage.
“Shortly before the train arrived at Luton Airport Parkway, the aggressive man located the victim and began violently assaulting him. He punched him repeatedly before throwing him from the train onto the platform in the station.”
Rail staff at Luton Airport Parkway called police and the victim was taken to hospital for treatment to a broken and cut nose, swelling to the head and bruising. The attacker is believed to have left the train at Bedford.
Officers have been pursuing several lines of enquiry and are now appealing for help identifying a man they believe will be able to assist their investigation.
Sgt Bartlett added: “Who is the man in the cap? That’s the question we need the public’s help to answer. If you know who he is, please get in touch with BTP or, alternately, Crimestoppers. We are also keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident, and has yet to come forward to police.
“This was a violent and sustained assault and we are doing all we can to catch the person responsible. Everyone has the right to travel on the rail network, at any time of day or night, without the fear of violence of any kind.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016, quoting reference E/B3 of 26/06/2015. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.