Teenagers arrested after UK’s ex-ambassador to US Christopher Meyer was beaten up at London’s Victoria train station
A 15-year-old girl and a boy, 16, have been arrested after Sir Christopher Meyer was attacked at Victoria Underground station in central London
TWO teenagers have been arrested after the former British ambassador to the United States was brutally attacked in broad daylight at Victoria train station.
Sir Christopher Meyer, 74, is now recovering in hospital with a suspected broken nose and tendon damage from being punched and scratched.
British Transport Police said a 15-year-old girl and a boy aged 16 have been arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm after the attack at around 2.45pm on Wednesday.
His wife Catherine, Baroness Meyer, said Sir Christopher was set upon while taking the Tube to a think tank.
She told the Times: “He looks terrible. His left eye is like a golf ball and bleeding, the nose looks like it could be broken.
“I’m absolutely shocked by the level of the brutality. They really beat him. It’s appalling - like something you would see in a war zone."
A shocking photo showed Sir Christopher, who was the UK’s ambassador to the US between 1997 and 2003, covered in blood while lying in a hospital bed.
He is waiting to hear whether or not he would be operated on for injuries to his hand and face, his wife said.
Baroness Meyer said the dad-of-four was taken to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington and doesn’t remember anything.
The attack, a day before Donald Trump’s first visit to the UK as president of the US, is not thought to have been politically motivated, despite suggestions by the former Ukip leader Nigel Farage.
Mr Farage tweeted: “He [Sir Christopher] has been doing a lot of media about how important the Trump visit is. Police say it looks like a robbery - we’ll see.”
Sir Christopher had called for Britain to engage with President Trump during his visit, and not to turn its back on him.
The ex-British ambassador was due to make several TV interviews to discuss the official visit, but has now had to cancel them due to his injuries.
Lady Meyer added: “At first I thought that the attack was politically motivated. He is opinionated, and sometimes people have different opinions, but the police told me they believe that it is more likely that they might have wanted to rob him."
She said nothing was stolen as British Transport Police intervened quickly.
The children and families minister, Nadhim Zahawi, described the attack as “sick”.
Lady Meyer was ceremonially introduced to the House of Lords on Monday after her appointment in May sparked controversy - as she is close pals with the PM.
The 65-year-old previously experienced family trauma when her first husband abducted their children and took them to Germany for nine years.
She said she now plans to raise the issue of violent crime in the House of Lords.
"I think we really need to stop this, if you can't walk in London because of fear of being attacked brutally", she said.
It comes as police struggle to cope with a wave of violent crime across the country. Violent offences were up 21 per cent last year, with 1.3million recorded – the most since records began 15 years ago.
A British Transport Police spokesperson said: "Officers were called to Victoria Underground Station at 2.45 pm on Wednesday after receiving reports that a man had been seriously assaulted.
"A 16-year-old boy from Hillingdon and a 15-year-old girl from Croydon were both arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.
MOST READ IN NEWS
"They have been released under investigation while enquiries into the incident continue.
"A man in his seventies was taken to hospital, though his injuries are not believed to be life threatening or changing."
If anyone witnessed the assault taking place, we urge them to contact BTP by calling 0800 40 50 40 or texting 61016, with the reference 334 of 11 July.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.