TV legend traumatised after being assaulted and robbed in daylight by London gang

Broadcaster Selina Scott said she was 'stunned' following the terrifying incident in central London, and has hit out at the lack of police presence in the capital in the aftermath

Veteran broadcaster Selina Scott has shockingly disclosed that she was the victim of an assault and robbery during a brazen daylight attack in central London. The former ITV News at Ten anchor, 74, detailed her harrowing experience of being encircled and assaulted by a group of up to eight individuals after leaving a Waterstones close to Piccadilly.

The attackers, who Scott described as clad in costly sportswear and of East Asian appearance, masqueraded as normal pedestrians until they swiftly encroached on her. "I was right by a busy bus stop, although no one would have known what was going on," she described in the Mail on Sunday.

"It was slick, brief and clearly engineered to happen in the middle of a crowd."

Scott recalled being struck behind the knee, which initially gave her the frightful impression that she'd been stabbed, and found herself trapped.

Whilst gripping her designer backpack firmly, she was then josted by another contingent on the opposite side.

"I was being attacked from both sides at the same time," she said.

Despite her resistance and managing to keep hold of her bag, the assailants succeeded in unzipping it and absconding with her purse containing her cash, cards, and driving licence.

"I still feel shattered after what has happened. I can't believe it happened to me," she said.

This traumatic incident left Scott with physical bruises and profoundly shaken emotionally. "I'm mentally resilient and physically fit, but if they can attack me in such a brazen way they can attack anyone," she commented.

"You're left feeling not just traumatised, but stupid that you have somehow let it happen."

Scott, who is renowned for her interview with Donald Trump amongst other career highlights, has voiced her indignation at what she perceives to be a glaring lack of police presence in London.

"I walked up and down some of London's busiest central areas and didn't see a single officer," she remarked. "I'm also furious about the lack of police on our streets. No wonder the gang who set about me have a sense of impunity-they can do anything they want because they know no one will stop them."

In response to her comments, the Metropolitan Police defended their deployment in the area, saying: "While we understand that the victim was frustrated that she couldn't see any police officers on the street, a significant number of officers patrol the West End every day - not just in uniform on foot, but also in plain clothes and in vehicles to have the best opportunity to identify and apprehend suspects. We would be happy to talk to the victim to better understand her concerns."

Despite the ordeal, Scott expressed relief that the assailants did not use a knife, though she remains significantly shaken. "It was so swift and practised that it was clear it was a coordinated assault," she recounted.