An employee of the Councils contractor, Verdant, was seriously attacked, Thursday night, whilst carrying out cleaning duties in Walthamstow High Street.

A car attempted to drive through as the market was being swept and the employee was attacked with an iron bar. The Police attended and the employee was taken to Whipp’s Cross Hospital with a suspected fractured skull; which was later confirmed.

Reports say the car was stolen and abandoned at the bottom of the High Street by the attacker.

High Street Ward Councillors, James O’Rourke and Johar Khan said: “It is outrageous that such an attack can take place on someone who is simply doing their job. We hope the attacker is caught soon and punished appropriately. We are calling for a review of traffic management in the High Street as we aware of other incidents and indeed have witnessed incidents ourselves.”

Cllrs O’Rourke and Khan have asked that their, and High Street residents’, best wishes for a speedy recovery are passed on to the employee and their family.

In the early hours of this morning a young 18 year old man tragically lost his life after having been stabbed in Walthamstow Town Square. Two men have been arrested in connection with the incident and are now in custody.

Liberal Democrat Councillors for High Street ward, James O’Rourke and Johar Khan, voiced their dismay and sadness as yet another life has been lost to knife crime and wish to convey their sincerest condolences to the victims family and friends.

On the day when the celebrations of the Olympic handover from Beijing to London was to be shown on the screen in Walthamstow Town Centre hundreds of people were being turned away at the Police cordon.

The Children & Young People and Community Safety & Housing Scrutiny Committees, chaired by Lib Dem Cllrs James O’Rourke and Sean Meiszner, will be holding an extraordinary meeting in October and calling all relevant agencies to provide evidence as to how they are dealing with the serious issue of knife crime in Waltham Forest.

Note: The Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information should call the incident room on 8345 3715; or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.