Car rammed and motorist beaten with baseball bat

A driver who was attacked with a baseball bat by a gang after his car was rammed in Smethwick was in a stable condition in hospital today.

The 21-year-old from Winson Green, Birmingham, suffered serious head injuries during the attack.

Police have arrested a 21-year-old man, also from Winson Green, on suspicion of attempted murder and he has been released on bail.

The victim was with a friend, believed to be in his early 20s, and was driving along Manor Road in a Toyota Avensis. The car was rammed by a BMW which contained three attackers.

The victims were then dragged from the Toyota and hit with a baseball bat.

The 21-year-old suffered "life threatening" injuries but is now in a stable condition. His friend fled along Manor Road. He is not believed to be injured.

The attackers returned to the black BMW and drove off towards Blackheath.

Det Insp Derek Packham said the motive for the assault at around 2pm on Friday was unclear at this stage but it is believed that the attackers and victims, all young Asian men, knew one another.

He said: "The wider community, especially in Manor Road, should be reassured that there is no other special significance attached to the location – it just happened to be where the men caught up with one another."