A community is reeling after the stabbing of a popular Uxbridge newsagent, the second knife attack at the shop in a month.
A man on a motorcycle pulled up to the News Hut in New Windsor Street, Uxbridge, at 10am on Monday.
He went in and demanded takings from the till, grappling with newsagent Harvinder Ubhi before stabbing him in the back with a 10 inch blade.
Mr Ubhi, 51, a father to two who has worked in the shop for more than 25 years, is in a stable condition in St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.
His wife, Bel, said: "The person who did this is just a coward and afraid of doing a hard day's work and would rather go after other people's money.
"People round here know Harvinder like family. He didn't realise he had been stabbed at first Ð he tried to fight off the man and only then he noticed."
A customer who arrived at the shop as the arttacker fled called for an ambulance.
An air ambulance attended, although Mr Ubhi was eventually taken to hospital by road.
Detective Sergeant Mark Adams of Hillingdon Police said: "This is a violent attempted robbery on a respected and law abiding local trader who has sustained a serious injury in defending himself.
"I appeal to anyone who has not already come forward to do so if they witnessed any part of the incident, much of which took place in the street outside the premises."
The attacker is described as white, about 20 years old, 5ft 11in tall. He wore a dark coloured motorcycle helmet to cover his face, a dark jacket, jeans and trainers.
He fled the scene on what is believed to be a 500cc motorcycle in the direction of Iver.
Anyone with information should call Uxbridge Police on 020 8246 1471 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
