Five men who smashed an American student's eye socket with a bottle he was drinking from 'because he was obviously not local' are facing jail today. Francesco Hounye, 23, had been in Britain just three days when he was attacked by the gang who kicked him in the head as he lay wounded on the ground, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard. He was set upon in an area where a 'Muslim patrol' attempting to enforce Sharia law in east London had previously been caught on camera. But police have stressed that there was no evidence to suggest this attack was a hate crime or motivated by religion in any way.
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Student Francesco Hounye, 23, was attacked by a gang in east London
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He needed 23 stitches after they smashed a bottle over his eye socket
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Five men are facing jail today after admitting causing grievous bodily harm
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Reports in the US suggested the assailants were on a 'Muslim Patrol'
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But police said  there is no evidence that attack was religiously motivated
In a statement, traumatised Mr Hounye, who had come to London to study, said: 'As a result of this incident I am now scared to go out on my own in @placeholder.