Broadcaster Selina Scott 'traumatised' after being robbed
The 74-year-old former ITV News at Ten anchor revealed how she fought back during the terrifying incident last week.
Scott said she was leaving a branch of Waterstones in central London when she was struck on the back of her knee, leaving her feeling as if she had been 'stabbed'.
The gang attempted to snatch her designer backpack, which she tightly held onto, however one of the thieves unzipped it and removed her purse before running off.
She lost her bank cards, driving licence and cash in the robbery.
Another group then barged into her, and she realised she was being 'attacked from both sides at the same time'.
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Scott said the events were 'so swift and practised that it was clear it was a coordinated assault'.
She explained: 'I was right by a busy bus stop, although no one would have known what was going on.
'It was slick, brief and clearly engineered to happen in the middle of a crowd. I still feel shattered after what has happened. I can't believe it happened to me.
'I'm mentally resilient and physically fit, but if they can attack me in such a brazen way they can attack anyone. You're left feeling not just traumatised, but stupid that you have somehow let it happen.'
After starting out her career as a journalist in Dundee, Scott became a national figure as a newsreader for ITN in 1982 at the height of the Falklands War.
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Scott was also one of the launch team for BBC Breakfast, which began in January 1983.
She went on to make a name for herself in America too, scoring her own chat show on US TV in the 90s before heading back to the UK to front Sky's breakfast show.
During her career she has interviewed the likes of King Charles and Donald Trump.
In 2018, Scott appeared in four episodes of the BBC's The Real Marigold Hotel, shot in Rajasthan.
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Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
TV legend traumatised after being assaulted and robbed in daylight by London gang
TV legend traumatised after being assaulted and robbed in daylight by London gang Broadcaster Selina Scott said she was 'stunned' following the terrifying incident in central London, and has hit out at the lack of police presence in the capital in the aftermath Veteran broadcaster Selina Scott (Image: Getty Images ) Veteran broadcaster Selina Scott has shockingly disclosed that she was the victim of an assault and robbery during a brazen daylight attack in central London. The former ITV News at Ten anchor, 74, detailed her harrowing experience of being encircled and assaulted by a group of up to eight individuals after leaving a Waterstones close to Piccadilly. The attackers, who Scott described as clad in costly sportswear and of East Asian appearance, masqueraded as normal pedestrians until they swiftly encroached on her. "I was right by a busy bus stop, although no one would have known what was going on," she described in the Mail on Sunday. "It was slick, brief and clearly engineered to happen in the middle of a crowd." Scott recalled being struck behind the knee, which initially gave her the frightful impression that she'd been stabbed, and found herself trapped. Whilst gripping her designer backpack firmly, she was then josted by another contingent on the opposite side. "I was being attacked from both sides at the same time," she said. Article continues below Selina says she has been left 'traumatised' (Image: Daily Record ) Despite her resistance and managing to keep hold of her bag, the assailants succeeded in unzipping it and absconding with her purse containing her cash, cards, and driving licence. "I still feel shattered after what has happened. I can't believe it happened to me," she said. This traumatic incident left Scott with physical bruises and profoundly shaken emotionally. "I'm mentally resilient and physically fit, but if they can attack me in such a brazen way they can attack anyone," she commented. "You're left feeling not just traumatised, but stupid that you have somehow let it happen." Scott, who is renowned for her interview with Donald Trump amongst other career highlights, has voiced her indignation at what she perceives to be a glaring lack of police presence in London. "I walked up and down some of London's busiest central areas and didn't see a single officer," she remarked. "I'm also furious about the lack of police on our streets. No wonder the gang who set about me have a sense of impunity-they can do anything they want because they know no one will stop them." In response to her comments, the Metropolitan Police defended their deployment in the area, saying: "While we understand that the victim was frustrated that she couldn't see any police officers on the street, a significant number of officers patrol the West End every day - not just in uniform on foot, but also in plain clothes and in vehicles to have the best opportunity to identify and apprehend suspects. We would be happy to talk to the victim to better understand her concerns." Despite the ordeal, Scott expressed relief that the assailants did not use a knife, though she remains significantly shaken. "It was so swift and practised that it was clear it was a coordinated assault," she recounted. Article continues below
Rhyl Journal
5 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Broadcaster Selina Scott 'traumatised' after being robbed
The 74-year-old former ITV News at Ten anchor revealed how she fought back during the terrifying incident last week. Scott said she was leaving a branch of Waterstones in central London when she was struck on the back of her knee, leaving her feeling as if she had been 'stabbed'. The gang attempted to snatch her designer backpack, which she tightly held onto, however one of the thieves unzipped it and removed her purse before running off. She lost her bank cards, driving licence and cash in the robbery. Another group then barged into her, and she realised she was being 'attacked from both sides at the same time'. Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Scott said the events were 'so swift and practised that it was clear it was a coordinated assault'. She explained: 'I was right by a busy bus stop, although no one would have known what was going on. 'It was slick, brief and clearly engineered to happen in the middle of a crowd. I still feel shattered after what has happened. I can't believe it happened to me. 'I'm mentally resilient and physically fit, but if they can attack me in such a brazen way they can attack anyone. You're left feeling not just traumatised, but stupid that you have somehow let it happen.' After starting out her career as a journalist in Dundee, Scott became a national figure as a newsreader for ITN in 1982 at the height of the Falklands War. Recommended reading: ITV to axe popular reality channel ITVBe in summer shake-up Stephen Mulhern dropped from £1m Butlin's magic show Freeview TV's may need retune after ITV Quiz channel launch Scott was also one of the launch team for BBC Breakfast, which began in January 1983. She went on to make a name for herself in America too, scoring her own chat show on US TV in the 90s before heading back to the UK to front Sky's breakfast show. During her career she has interviewed the likes of King Charles and Donald Trump. In 2018, Scott appeared in four episodes of the BBC's The Real Marigold Hotel, shot in Rajasthan.
South Wales Guardian
6 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Broadcaster Selina Scott 'traumatised' after being robbed
The 74-year-old former ITV News at Ten anchor revealed how she fought back during the terrifying incident last week. Scott said she was leaving a branch of Waterstones in central London when she was struck on the back of her knee, leaving her feeling as if she had been 'stabbed'. The gang attempted to snatch her designer backpack, which she tightly held onto, however one of the thieves unzipped it and removed her purse before running off. She lost her bank cards, driving licence and cash in the robbery. Another group then barged into her, and she realised she was being 'attacked from both sides at the same time'. Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Scott said the events were 'so swift and practised that it was clear it was a coordinated assault'. She explained: 'I was right by a busy bus stop, although no one would have known what was going on. 'It was slick, brief and clearly engineered to happen in the middle of a crowd. I still feel shattered after what has happened. I can't believe it happened to me. 'I'm mentally resilient and physically fit, but if they can attack me in such a brazen way they can attack anyone. You're left feeling not just traumatised, but stupid that you have somehow let it happen.' After starting out her career as a journalist in Dundee, Scott became a national figure as a newsreader for ITN in 1982 at the height of the Falklands War. Recommended reading: ITV to axe popular reality channel ITVBe in summer shake-up Stephen Mulhern dropped from £1m Butlin's magic show Freeview TV's may need retune after ITV Quiz channel launch Scott was also one of the launch team for BBC Breakfast, which began in January 1983. She went on to make a name for herself in America too, scoring her own chat show on US TV in the 90s before heading back to the UK to front Sky's breakfast show. During her career she has interviewed the likes of King Charles and Donald Trump. In 2018, Scott appeared in four episodes of the BBC's The Real Marigold Hotel, shot in Rajasthan.
