Friends Of STAR

The injured student set upon by callous looters who had pretended to help him is recovering in hospital and awaiting surgery on a broken jaw.

Malaysian accountancy student Mohammed Ashraf Haziq, 20, was robbed in broad daylight during riots in Hackney by a gang who had pretended to help him to his feet.

Instead, the robbers stole a mobile phone and wallet from Mr Haziq's rucksack as he stood heavily bleeding, in a video which symbolised the lawless thuggery of the London riots.

The young student - who only arrived in the country a month ago - was walking in Hackney to see a friend when he was set upon by thugs who broke his jaw.

Seconds later he was rounded on by a second passing gang who at first helped him to his feet but then brazenly took items from his bag.

Mr Haziq, a first-year accountancy student at Kaplan Financial college, is now recovering from the attack in Royal London Hospital and is said to be in 'high spirits' despite having to eat through a drip due to his injuries.

It is thought he will have a metal plate fixed in his jaw after undergoing surgery.

Consular officer Wan Azim also visited Mr Haziq at hospital, said: 'He is doing okay but his jaw is fractured or broken.

'His face was very swollen. I asked if he had any other injuries, but he said not.

'He can't speak very well and I'm told he will need surgery. He can't eat at the moment so he's being fed through a drip.'

Mr Azim explained that Mr Haziq had been fasting for Ramadan, and was on his way to visit a friend and break his fast, when he was set upon by a gang of youths.

'They suddenly blocked his way and attacked him,' said Mr Azim.

'He was with another friend who managed to run away, but Ashraf was caught and assaulted.

'He was lying on the floor when another group came along. They initially went to help him, but unfortunately they took his wallet and mobile phone.

'He also had a bicycle with him - that was either taken or damaged as well.

'I feel so sorry for him. He came here to study, he's only been here a month.

'He really was in the wrong place at the wrong time, you can't predict this kind of thing.'

Last night a spokesman for the Royal said they were unable to comment.

YouTube footage of the appalling scene drew widespread condemnation across social networking sites yesterday, and well-wishers have mounted a Twitter campaign to replace Mr Haziq's stolen possessions.

A website has also been set up asking for suggestions for a gesture to be made for Mr Haziq once he leaves hospital.

Well-wishers on the site - 'Let do something nice for Ashraf Haziq' - are hoping for donations, with one idea being to pay for his family to visit him in the UK.

The website can be found at http://somethingniceforashraf.tumblr.com/.