Police are appealing for information after a man was strangled by a passenger in an unprovoked assault while the pair travelled on a bus in the Earls Court area. <br /><br />The assault was so fierce that the victim, a 37-year-old man on his way to work, passed out as he was being choked with the suspect's scarf.<br /><br />It happened at around 13.50 hrs on Saturday 1 December on a single decker C1 bus travelling between Victoria and White City.<br /><br />The victim had got on the bus at Victoria bus station on his way to work in Earls Court.<br /><br />At 1342 hrs the suspect got on at Creswell Gardens. CCTV footage shows that he sat immediately behind the victim.<br /><br />The pair have a brief conversation before the suspect launches at the victim and strangles him with his dark scarf from behind.<br /><br />Footage shows the victim passing out for a matter of seconds and then coming round. The suspect then tries to strangle him again.<br /><br />The attack lasted for around 30 seconds.<br /><br />After being assisted by passengers, he then alights at Earls Court with the junction of Cromwell Road and reports the offence to police officers nearby. <br /><br />He was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries.<br /><br />The suspect is seen to leave the bus at Shepherds Bush at 1357 hrs.<br /><br />He is a black male, in his early to mid 20s. He was wearing a grey beanie hat, a sleeveless puffa-style jacket, a beige sweat shirt underneath, dark jeans and dark boots.<br /><br />The officer on the case, Detective Constable Thomas Norman, of Notting Hill CID said: "This was an unprovoked attack on an innocent passenger who was on his way to work.<br /><br />"The victim has been left highly traumatised. It was so violent that he passed out and this could have been far worse.<br /><br />"I would urge anyone with information or anyone who recognises this man to contact us as soon as possible. This man is a danger to the public."<br /><br />Anyone with information or witnesses can contact Notting Hill CID on 0208 246 0217, the non-emergency police line on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
