A Muslim man who was stabbed on his way home from the mosque initially believed he had been “punched really hard” in the stomach, the East London & West Essex Guardian reports.
The worshipper was walking back from Qur’ani Murkuz Trust in Mulberry Way, South Woodford, when he was attacked for refusing to give two teenage boys a cigarette at around 11pm on Tuesday 14 February.
The victim made it home to Colvin Gardens, Wanstead but when he took off his jacket he noticed blood and realised he had been stabbed.
The man in his 30s who is married with children was immediately taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Qur’ani Murkuz’s Imam, Dr Mohammed Fahim, visited the victim in hospital last week, who is now out of intensive care.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “The victim was approached by two teenage boys who asked for a cigarette.
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“When the victim declined he was stabbed in the stomach.”
Officers are investigating but there have not been any arrests made.
