DOCUMENT: Crime

Cops: Female Diners Beat IHOP Worker Bloody

Melee at Memphis eatery was caught on tape

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Bloody IHOP Melee

MARCH 19--An IHOP manager was left bloodied after he was attacked by rowdy female patrons who threw punches, chairs, and plates at the worker, according to Tennessee police who are seeking to identify the assailants.

According to cops, the melee touched off early Friday morning at an IHOP restaurant in Memphis after victim Mohammad Al Hourani, 28, asked the group to “please keep it down.”

As detailed in a Memphis Police Department report, Al Hourani told cops that when the diners “started to get louder” he “asked the suspects to just leave.” Still yelling, the diners departed the IHOP, but “kept coming in and out of the business taunting” Al Hourani, the report notes.

Al Hourani said he called 911, but before police arrived, he was attacked by one of the suspects near the IHOP’s front door.

As seen in the above video, which was shot by a diner unconnected to the raucous party of five, the manager fought with one woman near a booth while two of her friends threw plates at the worker from point blank range. Al Hourani told cops he was struck in the head several times.

After the 5’ 8” manager bodyslammed the woman with whom he was tangling, one of the plate throwers launched a chair at Al Hourani. He responded by throwing the chair back at the woman, knocking her to the ground. Further chair tossing followed before the attackers finally left IHOP and Al Hourani staggered away.

The IHOP employee, who was bleeding profusely from cuts to his head and face, was later transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Al Hourani told officers that “one of the reasons why the suspects got so upset was because he kept calling them sirs even though the suspects were dressed like ladies.” The police report identifies the assailants--both men and women--as between the ages of 20 and 25.

Memphis police have not made any arrests in connection with the 12:30 AM incident, which has been classified as a felony aggravated assault. (1 page)