A chef who has worked under Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing is fighting for his life in hospital after being attacked near the Notting Hill Carnival.
Sweden-born Mussie Imnetu, 41, was found unconscious with a head injury at the Dr Power restaurant in Queensway at just before 11.30pm on Monday.
Officers who were deployed as part of the carnival policing operation provided emergency first aid until paramedics arrived, before Mr Imnetu was taken to hospital, where he remains “critically ill”.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, a 31-year-old man was arrested at an address in Newham, east London, on suspicion of attempted murder and he remains in custody at a south London police station.
Mr Imnetu had been visiting the UK on business from Dubai where he lived and worked as a chef, the Metropolitan Police said.
He left The Arts Club, a private members-only club in Mayfair, on his own shortly after 1pm on Monday, wearing a blue T-shirt and black jeans.
Mr Imnetu is said to have later bought a white baseball cap before arriving alone at the Dr Power restaurant, which was busy with carnival attendees, at around 10.30pm.
Scotland Yard has urged witnesses of the attack to come forward, saying it occurred at around 11.20pm and that customers at the venue tried to stop it.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, leading the investigation, said: “While the arrest of a suspect is a significant step in our investigation, we are still very keen to hear from anyone who can help piece together Mussie’s movements between when he left The Arts Club at 1pm and when he arrived at Dr Power restaurant at 10.30pm.
“If you visited the restaurant between 10pm and 11.30pm on Monday night or were in the area and saw something, regardless of the reason you were there, please do get in touch.
“Our focus is on what happened to Mussie. Did you speak with him at the restaurant or do you have any images or videos between these times that could assist the investigation? The attack happened around 11.20pm.
“Customers at the venue tried to help stop the attack, we need to speak with these people and I urge them to contact us.”
Mr Imnetu’s family members are being supported by specialist officers.
The Arts Club Dubai website says Mr Imnetu has worked under celebrity chefs Ramsay and Wareing, as well as Alain Ducasse.
