Shanghai police hunt for foreigner who beat up taxi passenger

Zhang shows his injuries after being beaten up by a foreigner. — eastday.com

Police are looking for a foreigner who allegedly roughed up a passenger in a taxi at a traffic intersection in downtown Shanghai on Wednesday night.

The passenger, surnamed Zhang, said a foreigner on a cycle stopped in front his taxi at the traffic light on the intersection of Wuding and Jiangsu roads and started attacking him.

Zhang said he was sitting in the front seat of the taxi next to the driver and could not fight back as the door was blocked by the foreigner.

The Shanghai Blue Union Taxi Co driver, surnamed Fu, said Zhang got into the taxi near Wanhangdu Road and Kangding Road at 11pm. They drove along Wanhangdu Road and was about to turn right on Wuding Road W., when a cyclist from the opposite side nearly caused an accident, Fu said.

The driver said the foreigner pointed his finger to the taxi several times. But he ignored him and kept driving before stopping the taxi in front of Jiangsu Road traffic signal.

The cyclist, said to be in his 20s, followed the taxi and started hitting Zhang. Fu said he got off the taxi and started shouting. The foreigner took off on his bike and Fu tried to give chase but could not catch him.

Fu said there was blood on Zhang's face, clothes and on the taxi seat.

Police said they were investigating the case and did know the identity of the foreigner. Zhang was taken to Jing'an District Central Hospital. His supraorbital ridge was broken and his nasal bone fractured.