Lawrence actor stabbed in 'race attack'

The actor who played murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence in a TV drama has been stabbed in what is believed to be a racist attack.

Leon Black claims he was called a "nigger" by a white youth before he was knifed following a late-night fight at an Islington bar. Mr Black claims he was chased into a park and was set upon by two men. The actor is reported to have said: "I thought they were going to kill me."

The 20-year-old, from Bethnal Green, starred in the 1999 film The Murder Of Stephen Lawrence, about the 18-yearold who was stabbed to death by a group of white youths at a bus stop in Eltham in 1993. Mr Black had been drinking in The Lark in the Park pub with friends on Friday evening when they were involved in an argument with a group of three white men. A scuffle broke out and eventually all participants were ejected.

Mr Black claims the attackers were shouting racial abuse. He said: "They were shouting in their Cockney accents 'we're going to get you'. I was furious. My mates were trying to calm me down, we didn't want any trouble."

Mr Black was stabbed in the ribs with what he believes was a six-inch knife. He was treated at the scene and taken to hospital where he was given stitches and released.