F1 boss Ecclestone attacked outside London office
LONDON – Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone suffered a minor head injury when he was attacked outside his London office this week and robbed of jewelry worth $314,000.
The 80-year-old Ecclestone was treated at a hospital after being punched and kicked by four men following his arrival at the offices of Formula One Holdings on Wednesday night, London Police said Friday.
Ecclestone was released from the hospital.
Police are investigating but no arrests had been made.
Police said Ecclestone was accompanied by a woman, identified in British media reports as his Brazilian girlfriend, Fabiana Flosi, at the time of the attack around 10:30 p.m.
Earlier this month, Ecclestone complained there were not enough police officers on the streets of London.
"Normally like in America or anywhere you go, there are people getting mugged," Ecclestone said. "In London, it's a funny thing, you know. It's surprising in Oxford Street the number of people that get mugged there hourly.
"We should have more police there."
Ecclestone made the comments in response to an attempted attack on Formula One driver Jenson Button in Sao Paolo ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, suggesting that robbers go after people who look vulnerable.
"They look for victims, they look for anyone that looks like a soft touch and not too bright," Ecclestone said. "The people that look a bit soft and simple, they will always have a go at."
Button's driver had to swerve out of a traffic jam to dodge an attempted robbery by heavily armed gunmen approaching the armored car.
