A young woman has described the terrifying moment she was violently knocked to the ground by a stranger during a chilling random attack in East London.
Victim thrown to ground near London canal in sickening unprovoked assault
Ayla Mellek, 20, was walking with a friend along Mile End canal when a tall man, thought to be around 6ft 4ins, ran directly at her at full speed. The brute slammed into her with such force she was left with cuts, bruises and whiplash after landing face-first on the pavement.
Ayla believes the violent thug deliberately targeted her. “After he collided with me, I heard a grunt of satisfaction come from him,” she said. “I turned my body to make space but he ran at me full speed and bodied me. It felt like he was trying to knock me into the canal.”
Suspect had pushed elderly man into canal just hours earlier, witnesses say
Initially Ayla thought the incident may have been accidental — but that changed moments later when a couple told her the same man had already pushed an elderly man into the canal just hours before.
“They saw me crying and said the same man pushed someone into the water. That’s when I knew it wasn’t a mistake,” she added.
Incel-linked trend feared as women share similar stories
The disturbing incident has sparked fears it may be linked to the sickening incel trend known as “butsukari otoko”, or “bumping man”, which began in Japan. There, men targeted women in train stations, ramming them to assert physical dominance and for their own gratification.
Victims in London have since come forward claiming they too have been body-slammed in seemingly random attacks. One woman said she was knocked backwards at Old Street Station, damaging her shoulder and breaking her camera. Another said she was barged on the Underground with “full force”.
Police confirm investigation underway but no arrests yet
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are investigating and appealed for witnesses. “It is alleged a man pushed a 20-year-old woman as she walked along the canal in Mile End,” a spokesperson said. “No arrests have been made. An investigation into the circumstances is ongoing.”
Ayla’s experience and those of other women have fuelled concern that the disturbing trend may now have reached London.
