The former ITV news anchor says she tried to fight off the gang in Piccadilly

BROADCASTER Selina Scott was viciously attacked and robbed by a gang in broad daylight last week, she revealed.

The ex-ITV News at Ten anchor, 74, bravely fought back but said the ordeal left her “shattered and traumatised”.

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Selina Scott says she was robbed after being attacked by a gang in LondonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
She said she was leaving a Waterstones in Piccadilly, Central London, when she was struck on the back of her right knee and thought she had been stabbed.

A gang of around seven or eight men and women, in expensive sportswear and seemingly of East Asian origin, who were in front of her then turned and hemmed her in.

They tried to grab her designer backpack, which she tightly held onto.

Another group then barged into her and she realised she was being “attacked from both sides at the same time”.

Selina managed to keep hold of the bag when she fought back and the gang walked off laughing.

She later realised they managed to unzip the bag and take her purse, which had her driving license, cards and cash.

Ms Scott, a TV icon since the 1980s who famously interviewed Donald Trump, slammed the lack of police presence to deter or catch the criminal thugs.

She said she walked “up and down some of London’s busiest central areas” and did not see a single officer.

The journalist wrote in the Mail on Sunday that the events were “so swift and practised that it was clear it was a coordinated assault.”

She added: “I was right by a busy bus stop, although no one would have known what was going on.

“It was slick, brief and clearly engineered to happen in the middle of a crowd.

“I still feel shattered after what has happened. I can’t believe it happened to me.

“I’m mentally resilient and physically fit, but if they can attack me in such a brazen way they can attack anyone.

“You’re left feeling not just traumatised, but stupid that you have somehow let it happen.

“I’m also furious about the lack of police on our streets. No wonder the gang who set about me have a sense of impunity – they can do anything they want because they know no one will stop them.”

She suffered bruising to her leg but said she was relieved they did not use a knife.

The Met Police said: “While we understand that the victim was frustrated that she couldn’t see any police officers on the street, a significant number of officers patrol the West End every day – not just in uniform on foot, but also in plain clothes and in vehicles to have the best opportunity to identify and apprehend suspects.

“We would be happy to talk to the victim to better understand her concerns.”

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Journalist Selina was a beloved TV star in the 1980sCredit: Alamy