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Mother of boy allegedly beaten in racist attack releases images of injuries Mother of boy allegedly beaten in racist attack releases images of injuries
(about 5 hours later)
The mother of a 10-year-old boy who was allegedly the victim of a racially motivated attack by two other children in Bristol has released images of the youngster’s injuries. The mother of a 10-year-old boy who was allegedly the victim of a racist attack by two other children in Bristol has released images of the youngster’s injuries.
Awais Ali was walking to a friend’s house to play video games when two slightly older boys allegedly called him “Paki” and demanded that he hand over his phone and money.Awais Ali was walking to a friend’s house to play video games when two slightly older boys allegedly called him “Paki” and demanded that he hand over his phone and money.
He did not have any cash but the boys allegedly dragged him to a disused building in the Fishponds area of Bristol where they hit him with a stick – which snapped – before striking him with a rubber or plastic pipe.He did not have any cash but the boys allegedly dragged him to a disused building in the Fishponds area of Bristol where they hit him with a stick – which snapped – before striking him with a rubber or plastic pipe.
Ali suffered injuries to his head, ribs, shoulder blades, his left leg and arms and had a trainer mark imprinted on his back from where they allegedly stood on him.Ali suffered injuries to his head, ribs, shoulder blades, his left leg and arms and had a trainer mark imprinted on his back from where they allegedly stood on him.
His mother, Anisa Iqbal, 33, whose family moved from Pakistan 50 years ago, claimed: “They said ‘Oi, Paki, stop, where are you going?’ And demanded money. My son said he didn’t have any.His mother, Anisa Iqbal, 33, whose family moved from Pakistan 50 years ago, claimed: “They said ‘Oi, Paki, stop, where are you going?’ And demanded money. My son said he didn’t have any.
“They were holding his arms from the back so he wouldn’t run away. He tried to shout but nobody heard him.“They were holding his arms from the back so he wouldn’t run away. He tried to shout but nobody heard him.
“While he was up there they started hitting him with a wooden stick. Then the wooden stick broke and they hit him with a pipe on his head and his back.”“While he was up there they started hitting him with a wooden stick. Then the wooden stick broke and they hit him with a pipe on his head and his back.”
Awais managed to break free and was rescued by a woman driving home from work who saw him crawling along the fence of the building site, crying for help, covered in blood.Awais managed to break free and was rescued by a woman driving home from work who saw him crawling along the fence of the building site, crying for help, covered in blood.
She let him use her phone to call his mother, who was out at the time, before driving him home where his brother looked after him.She let him use her phone to call his mother, who was out at the time, before driving him home where his brother looked after him.
Iqbal added: “When I arrived he was sat on the settee covered in blood and looked really shaken.”Iqbal added: “When I arrived he was sat on the settee covered in blood and looked really shaken.”
The family has agreed for photos of the injuries to be published to raise awareness of racism. Iqbal said her son has had trouble sleeping since the attack.The family has agreed for photos of the injuries to be published to raise awareness of racism. Iqbal said her son has had trouble sleeping since the attack.
The boy’s mother said: “He used to sleep in his own bed but he’s stopped since the incident. He now sleeps in my bed with me and even in the night when he’s turning he says ‘Ouch that hurts’.The boy’s mother said: “He used to sleep in his own bed but he’s stopped since the incident. He now sleeps in my bed with me and even in the night when he’s turning he says ‘Ouch that hurts’.
“I’ve had to wake up in the night to give him painkillers. He was too frightened to go to school the next day. He needed a lot of convincing from the schoolteacher and myself to come into school.”“I’ve had to wake up in the night to give him painkillers. He was too frightened to go to school the next day. He needed a lot of convincing from the schoolteacher and myself to come into school.”
Iqbal, who has three other children, said: “I’ve lived in England my whole life and I’ve never experienced racist abuse. It was a very big shock.Iqbal, who has three other children, said: “I’ve lived in England my whole life and I’ve never experienced racist abuse. It was a very big shock.
“I read the paper a lot and when I hear of incidents like this I think how can that happen? But obviously it can happen because it happened to my son.”“I read the paper a lot and when I hear of incidents like this I think how can that happen? But obviously it can happen because it happened to my son.”
Police have launched an investigation and have already spoken to two boys, aged 11 and 12, who are to be formally interviewed on Wednesday.Police have launched an investigation and have already spoken to two boys, aged 11 and 12, who are to be formally interviewed on Wednesday.
Det Insp Steve Cartlidge said: “Any form of hate crime will be thoroughly investigated and we will be supporting the victim’s family and keeping them fully informed of our progress.Det Insp Steve Cartlidge said: “Any form of hate crime will be thoroughly investigated and we will be supporting the victim’s family and keeping them fully informed of our progress.
“We’d like to thank the local community for the help they’ve already provided to us, as well as the woman who came to the victim’s aid following the assault.“We’d like to thank the local community for the help they’ve already provided to us, as well as the woman who came to the victim’s aid following the assault.
“If anyone has information about this incident, or if you were in the Station Avenue South area of Fishponds at the time it happened, please call us as soon as possible.”“If anyone has information about this incident, or if you were in the Station Avenue South area of Fishponds at the time it happened, please call us as soon as possible.”
A police spokesman said on Wednesday: “Two boys are due to be formally interviewed by officers today. A video statement has now been taken from the victim. Our enquiries into this incident are continuing.” A police spokesman said on Wednesday: “Two boys are due to be formally interviewed by officers today. A video statement has now been taken from the victim. Our inquiries into this incident are continuing.”