Police have released images of three people they want to speak to after a teenage asylum seeker was beaten and left unconscious.
The two men and a woman are being sought in connection with the attack on a Kurdish Iranian in Croydon, southeast London.
The 17-y
ear-old was waiting at a bus stop in Shrublands Avenue, near The Goat pub, with two friends at about 11.40pm on Friday when they were approached by a group of people.
After discovering he was an asylum seeker, they chased him and launched a savage attack including repeated blows to the head, police said.
The boy was left with a fractured skull and a blood clot on his brain. He remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
His two friends managed to escape with minor injuries.
Detectives investigating the assault believe around 20 people were involved.
One resident said: There was a group of roughly 10 people that was kicking and punching him, and the rest, another 10 or 20, were all just around watching.
Then when they heard sirens they started to go. People that were there, witnesses, because they couldn’t do anything against a group of 30 people, they had to wait until they moved off and that’s when they managed to help him.
Eight people – including six men, one woman and a 17-year-old girl – are being held on suspicion of attempted murder and violent disorder following a series of arrests over the weekend.
A 20-year-old woman, arrested on Saturday, has been released.
Detectives are continuing to appeal for information and for witnesses to the attack, which is being treated as a suspected hate crime.
Detective Inspector Gary Castle said: “A large number of people, approximately 20, were involved in the attack.
If anyone can help identify these people please call my team without delay.
He added: All communities stand together against hate. No one should be subjected to violent behaviour, especially those who have come to London to seek refuge and a place of safety.
Croydon Central MP and Conservative minister Gavin Barwell described the attackers as scum.
He said it was an appalling crime and completely out of character for Croydon, which he said generally had very good relations between people of different backgrounds.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also condemned the attack, saying hate crime has no place in London, Britain or anywhere else, while the Refugee Council said it was disgusted by the assault.
Anyone with information should call Croydon CID on 020 3276 2234 or 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.