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| Claw hammer attack victim, 96, facing 'long' recovery | Claw hammer attack victim, 96, facing 'long' recovery |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| A great-grandfather who was attacked with a claw hammer in a suspected distraction burglary is facing a "long process of recovery", his family says. | |
| D-Day veteran Jim Booth, 96, was left with "serious injuries" after he was attacked by a cold caller asking if he needed any work doing to his house, in Taunton, Somerset. | D-Day veteran Jim Booth, 96, was left with "serious injuries" after he was attacked by a cold caller asking if he needed any work doing to his house, in Taunton, Somerset. |
| In a statement, his family said they shared well-wishers' feelings of "shock, incomprehension and outrage". | In a statement, his family said they shared well-wishers' feelings of "shock, incomprehension and outrage". |
| A 39-year-old man has been arrested. | A 39-year-old man has been arrested. |
| He is being held by Avon and Somerset Police on suspicion of attempted murder and aggravated burglary. | He is being held by Avon and Somerset Police on suspicion of attempted murder and aggravated burglary. |
| Mr Booth was attacked on Wednesday after he told a cold caller, who had knocked on his front door, that he did not require any work on his house. | Mr Booth was attacked on Wednesday after he told a cold caller, who had knocked on his front door, that he did not require any work on his house. |
| In a statement, his children said: "Countless friends, neighbours, members of the community and even strangers, have expressed their shock, incomprehension and outrage. | In a statement, his children said: "Countless friends, neighbours, members of the community and even strangers, have expressed their shock, incomprehension and outrage. |
| "We acknowledge and share those feelings." | "We acknowledge and share those feelings." |
| 'Our family hero' | 'Our family hero' |
| However, they said Mr Booth was "not easily defeated and he grows a little stronger each day". | However, they said Mr Booth was "not easily defeated and he grows a little stronger each day". |
| "Our father is an exceptional person of whom we are all immensely proud. | "Our father is an exceptional person of whom we are all immensely proud. |
| "He is the head of the family, a dearly loved father to his four children and adored by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to whom he's simply known as 'The Legend.' | "He is the head of the family, a dearly loved father to his four children and adored by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to whom he's simply known as 'The Legend.' |
| "He is, and always has been, our own family hero." | "He is, and always has been, our own family hero." |
| They said Mr Booth had been the victim of a "vicious and cowardly attack" and paid tribute to police officers who have worked "tirelessly" on the case. | They said Mr Booth had been the victim of a "vicious and cowardly attack" and paid tribute to police officers who have worked "tirelessly" on the case. |
| "We are all now focused on the long process of recovery, which will be helped by the love and support of all those around him," they added. | "We are all now focused on the long process of recovery, which will be helped by the love and support of all those around him," they added. |
| Mr Booth was part of a top-secret team of submariners who slipped into the waters off Normandy to scout the beaches, during World War Two. | Mr Booth was part of a top-secret team of submariners who slipped into the waters off Normandy to scout the beaches, during World War Two. |
| Avon and Somerset Police said officers were treating the attack as part of a distraction burglary. | Avon and Somerset Police said officers were treating the attack as part of a distraction burglary. |