A hammer attack near a mosque in Whitechapel has been branded a "horrible hate crime assault" by police.
Scotland Yard gave details of the assault with a hammer or similar blunt object on Saturday but could not confirm the motive.
However, after establishing three men in a car made "anti-Muslim" comments before the attack it has now been deemed a hate crime.
The victim, described as a 27-year-old Asian man by the Met, suffered head injuries though these were not deemed serious.
Scotland Yard's DCI Sean Channing said: "This was a horrible hate crime assault on a man going about his daily business."
However, he said it was not believed the mosque in the area itself had been a target.
Whilst there were initial Islamophobic comments made by this group towards the individual which are being treated seriously, I would like to make clear that at no point did the group approach any mosque or congregation in the area," he said.
"There is no evidence to suggest that the mosque near the area was the intended target."
After the attack on Friday the trio of suspects returned to their car and fled the scene in Cannon Street Road shortly after 1pm.
Footage on social media showed the group shouting in the street with one man clinging to the car's bonnet as it drove away from the scene with its back window smashed.
The suspects are all described as white men and aged in their 20s.
No arrests have been made at this time and officers continue to investigate.
Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101 quoting CAD 3563/15MAR or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
