Six arrested over teenage asylum seeker attack

Six people have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and violent disorder after a teenage asylum seeker was attacked.

Police arrested two women and four men who are all aged between 20 and 24 in Croydon on Saturday night.

Detectives continue to appeal for information and witnesses to the attack, which is being treated as a suspected hate crime.

The 17-year-old, a Kurdish Iranian, was waiting at a bus stop with two friends in Croydon, south-east London at around 11.40pm on Friday when he was approached by a group of people.

Police say they asked him where he was from, and when he told them he was an asylum seeker they chased and attacked him.

Scotland Yard said the boy was taken to a south London hospital, where he remains and described his condition as "serious but stable, and not believed to be life-threatening".

Police added that the teenager's two friends managed to escape the attackers and suffered minor injuries.

DS Kris Blamires from Croydon CID said: "A number of people came to the aid of the victim as he lay unconscious and injured following the assault.

"The suspects are believed to have made off in the direction of the Goat Pub, Broom Road following the attack.

"I would encourage all those who came to his aid and those in the immediate area who witnessed the attack or saw the males leave the scene to get in touch.

"All communities stand together against hate and we would ask anyone with any information to come forward immediately."

The incident prompted a wave of condemnation, with Tory minister Gavin Barwell, Croydon Central's MP, describing the attackers as "scum".

Police are urging those who helped the boy and anyone who witnessed the attack to get in touch, calling police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.