By JOHN COLES
AN Iraqi asylum seeker was being hunted last night after a Royal Marine was knifed as he returned from a farewell party for dead war heroes.
The commando was walking to barracks with three green beret pals when a gang attacked them.
One of the thugs pulled a knife and slashed the Marine, causing multiple wounds to his left arm, hand and head.
The knifeman fled — leaving his victim bleeding on the pavement in the centre of Plymouth, Devon.
The Marine was rushed to hospital where he needed three hours’ treatment and scores of stitches to his wounds.
He suffered nerve damage and loss of feeling in the fingers on his left hand and will need months of physiotherapy before he is fit for duty again.
A 25-year-old Iraqi asylum seeker and a serviceman aged 24 were arrested at the scene.
Both were later released on bail.
Cops say the wanted man is also an asylum seeker, believed to be an Iraqi.
A Royal Marines spokesman said the four commandos had been to a “kit sale” for a colleague who died in Iraq.
They are traditional send-offs where servicemen auction the dead man’s possessions to raise money for his family.
The Marines had been to an event to help three families who lost loved ones at the start of Iraq war when a helicopter crashed near the Kuwait border.
There are thought to be around 1,000 asylum seekers and refugees in the Plymouth area, home of the Marines.
Once again ungrateful asylum seekers take advantage of the people sent out to help them. This makes me so angry.
I hope they get those assholes...
