Masked thugs dragged a man from his car and viciously beat him with baseball bats.

The shocking incident unfolded in Wellington Street, Dewsbury, yesterday morning when a Black BMW was chased by a gang of three masked men travelling in a VW Passat.

Police were called at around 10am and closed off the street which is opposite Dewsbury Railway Station.

Scene in Dewsbury town centre where police have closed off Wellington Street following reports of an attack

The victim suffered serious injuries and was taken to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

A taxi driver told the Examiner how his car was shunted forward when the BMW was hit by the VW.

Hassan Ahmed, 66, said: “I was waiting at the give way and a BMW shunted into my car after it was hit from behind by a VW Passat.

“The men from the Passat then got out and dragged the driver into the road.

Scene in Dewsbury town centre where police have closed off Wellington Street following reports of an attack

“They all had baseball bats and started hitting him all over.

“He managed to get up and ran away but only managed to get a short distance as they chased him and again struck him.

“He was bleeding on the ground and people were starting to notice what was going on.

“Then the men got back in the Passat which was quite badly damaged and fled.”

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Mr Ahmed said he was shocked by such violence, particularly given the time of day.

He added: “I’ve been a taxi driver for 40 years and I’ve never seen anything like it. I was scared. I just hoped they wouldn’t come for me.”

In a statement, a police spokesman said: “Police were called to a violent assault in Dewsbury town centre this morning.

“The incident happened around 10am on Wellington Street in Dewsbury when a male was attacked by a group of men with weapons. The suspects fled the scene in a grey car.

“Police and ambulance attended. The victim suffered serious injuries and was taken to Pinderfields Hospital.”