POLICE say the vicious attack on Amo Singh for defending a Polish teenager from a gang of thugs was “not related to race or ethnicity” – but the Sikh shopkeeper has become a hero in Poland and £13,000 has been raised for him.

This comes as CCTV emerged of the gang attack on the 15-year-old before shopkeeper Amo came to his rescue at around 9.45pm on March 26.

Amo, 33, was then assaulted outside his shop, Premier Stores in Cashes Green, with his attackers hitting him with crowbars, driving into him at full speed and then running him over as he lay defenceless on the ground.

The incident has made the news in Poland and there is a campaign there for the President of Krakow to invite Amo to the city to publicly thank him.

Two fundraising accounts have been set up to help Amo, with one based in Stroud generating almost £3,000 and one supported by the Polish community hitting more than £10,000.

However, a spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said officers do not believe the attack was racially motivated.

“We understand that the community have been shocked by the nature of these serious assaults,” the spokesman said. “We are doing all we can to gather evidence and progress the case.

“However, while we cannot comment on specific lines of inquiry as it may hamper our investigation, we must stress that we believe those involved in this incident know each other and the motivation was not related to race or ethnicity.”

There have been no arrests so far.

Amo’s wife Sandy told the SNJ she saw six boys and two girls arrive in two cars and begin attacking the teen, who was with his girlfriend.

Amo grabbed a baseball bat and went outside to try to protect the boy, but the gang then turned on him.

One of them drove a car into Amo, sending him flying into the air. Others then hit him with crowbars and kicked him while he lay on the ground, before the driver reversed over him. The attackers then fled in the two cars.

Sandy told the SNJ the attackers racially abused Amo as they were beating him.

Amazingly, Amo survived the attack and is now recovering at home. He suffered a head wound which required stitches, bruises all over his body, and needed two metal plates inserted in a broken wrist.

Dozens of cards and flowers have been sent to him to wish him well.

Stroud district councillor for Cainscross, Rachel Curley, and Rodborough county councillor Brian Oosthuysen have organised a public meeting tomorrow, Thursday, to discuss the issue and reassure the community.

It takes place at the Cashes Green Community Centre, next door to Amo’s shop, at 7.30pm. Representatives from the police force have been invited to attend.