Crow: Rail bosses behind beating

A leader of the union behind last week's rail strikes claims industry chiefs orchestrated an assault at his home which left him seriously injured.

RMT assistant general secretary Bob Crow says the attack by two men wielding an iron bar was intended to make him drop out of the union's leadership challenge.

The incident at 3am on New Year's Day left Mr Crow, the hard Left candidate who is favourite to become RMT leader, with blurred vision in one eye and severe bruising to the arm.

Detectives initially thought it was an attempted burglary but are now treating the incident as premeditated assault. A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman today said: "Police retain an open mind as to the motive." Mr Crow accused unnamed people in the industry of "hiring muscle" to have him "finished off ". He said the attack coincided with the union sending out election ballot papers.

Asked who he thought was behind the attack, Mr Crow said: "No way would I consider the union rivals to be a part of this. I think it's something to do with certain employers."

A spokeswoman for South West Trains described the claim as a "ridiculous suggestion", adding: "We would not dignify it with further comment."