These are the horrifying scenes when a mob of brawling thugs wreaked havoc in an Indian restaurant.

Violence flared at the Shozna in Maidstone Road, Rochester, when the owner Jamal Ahmed pleaded with a rowdy table of 22 men to leave.

Mr Ahmed bore the brunt of the savage attack suffering a black eye after repeatedly being punched in the face in the fracas last Friday night.

At one point one of the thugs is seen pinning his head down on the bar

The pictures captured on CCTV show the out-of-control diners jostling with staff who grabbed pans and a broom to defend themselves.

A chef is seen wielding a heavy griddle pan in a desperate bid to make the mob back off.

Mr Ahmed, 42, an award-winning curry chef, said: “All hell let loose. It was like something out of the wild west. My main concern was for my other customers, who included children and my staff.

“In all of my 26 years in this business, I have never known anything like it.”

However, he said he had been touched by messages of support.

He said: “So many people have been in touch. I never realised how loved I was in the community.”

Mr Ahmed was punched and then set upon by other members of the group as staff and diners rushed to his aid. The restaurant erupted into violence, with tables overturned and glasses thrown while Mr Ahmed was kicked on the floor.

Left battered and bruised – and now taking antibiotics for an infected black eye – Mr Ahmed said he had not been cowed by the attack, and had received a constant stream of well-wishers.

Mr Ahmed, 42, said: “I’ve had text messages, flowers and cards - people coming to see me to say how disgusted they were with the events.

“They said to keep as normal, keep my chin up, and they’re here to support me. That has helped a lot. It’s made me a lot happier.

"Even the school St Margaret’s at Troy Town sent a card. The residents’ committee bought cards and flowers.

“I would like to thank all the people that have come in for the support they’ve shown through this situation.”

He said customers had also made a point of booking tables to help recoup the potential earnings lost by closing the restaurant last Friday night.

Mr Ahmed is still recovering from physical injuries – he is on antibiotics his swollen eye and has bruising to his shoulder and back.

He has now handed over CCTV of the incident to police.

Police say four men arrested on suspicion of affray after the brawl - aged 24, 34, 53 and 54 - were all from Chatham. All were bailed until Wednesday, September 23.

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