Assault Outside Alexandra Palace
On December 13 last year, the third day of the World Darts Championship, a man in his 20s was attacked and knocked unconscious by a group of men dressed as lobsters outside Alexandra Palace in north London. The Metropolitan Police have released CCTV images of a suspect in connection with the assault.
The victim had left the venue at approximately 4.30pm when he encountered the group. A dispute broke out, and security staff at the event initially separated them. However, shortly afterward, as the man walked along the venue's concourse, one of the lobster-costumed individuals struck him, rendering him unconscious.
Injuries and Investigation
The victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries that were not life-threatening. According to the Met, he continues to recover from the assault. Detective Constable Lizzie Coster, who is leading the investigation, stated: "This assault occurred outside at a major sporting event, and the suspect was wearing a distinctive costume. We are releasing a CCTV image of the suspect in the hope that it will jog the memory of attendees, or anyone else who was in the area at the time." She added: "Our thoughts are with the victim in this case, and we hope the best for his recovery."
Fancy Dress Tradition at Darts
Darts fans are known for attending matches in elaborate fancy dress, a tradition believed to have started as a way to catch the attention of television cameras. On the same day as the assault, two-time champion Gary Anderson defeated Adam Hunt 3-2 in a thrilling first-round match. Later, the championship concluded on January 3 with Luke Littler securing his second consecutive world title by thrashing Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final.
Police urge anyone with information to call 101, quoting reference 6879/13DEC. The investigation continues as officers seek to identify the suspect captured on CCTV.
