Preet Panesar was out with his elder brother Hardeep and his wife Shelly, and his friend Jagdeep Sira and his sister Jaspreet, at Akbar’s restaurant in Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, when seven men pulled up in two cars and began to attack them.
Preet Panesar was left with a shattered eye socket after being beaten with baseball bats and tyre irons in a gang attack while he was out for a meal with his family.
The 23-year-old’s friend, Jagdeep Sira, was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after his kneecaps were smashed in the attack.
Preet’s elder brother, 29-year-old Hardeep managed to escape, leading his wife Shelly and Jagdeep’s sister, Jaspreet, to safety.
Police have launched an investigation and are currently trawling through CCTV from the time of the attack, which happened shortly before 11.15pm on April 30.
Speaking at his Handsworth home, the cleaning company boss said: “We are normal people who were simply out for a family meal. We do not have an issue with anyone.
“What happened was totally unprovoked. Nothing happened before, nothing happened on the road, we had never seen these people. There was no argument.
“They simply got out of two cars and began hitting and kicking. My wife is now too scared to leave home.”
The five victims were getting into their Mercedes after enjoying a meal at Akbar’s restaurant, which shares TGI Friday’s car park, when the thugs struck.
Two vehicles, one a silver Ford Mondeo, pulled up and the armed gang stormed towards the group.
A total of seven men attacked – five from the Mondeo and two from the other vehicle.
“The Mondeo came at us at speed,” added Hardep. “All four doors opened and five people came out with cricket bats, baseball bats and tyre irons and began hitting us. It was completely random.
“Me and my wife managed to escape – my first reaction was to get my wife to safety, but they were hitting and kicking Preet again and again for about three minutes before speeding off.
“I thought they were going to kill them both. To their credit, the police were there within seconds. It was horrific. I don’t know who did this, or why, but I’m sure I recognised one of them. I’m sure he walked into the restaurant while we were eating and looked at us.”
Preet, his face grotesquely swollen, and 23-year-old Jagdeep were left in a pool of blood.
A spokesman for West Midland police confirmed officers responded to a 999 call at 11.13pm on Wednesday and immediately began a search for a silver vehicle, believed to be a Mondeo.
He added: “We are currently studying CCTV and interviewing witnesses. We would appeal for anyone with information to contact us on 101.”