Thugs armed with golf clubs launched a horiffic attack on a 17-year-old boy in Cheltenham.
The attackers shouted “terrorist” as they punched the boy, who is half Turkish, leaving him with injuries to his face.
He then ran home to alert his father, Bulent, and uncle, Mehmet, who found the two attackers still at the scene – but they were then subject to the same Islamophobic abuse and violence.
The shocking incident has left the family, who do not wish to share their surname, living in fear of another attack.
It happened shortly after midnight on Monday, November 23, at the junction with Folly Lane and St Paul’s Road, as the boy walked home from work.
Mehmet, 45, said his brother and nephew “could have been killed”.
“They knocked them down, they hit them with metal,” he said. “When I drove there they smashed my car. One of them jumped on a bike and ran away and people came. People came because of the noise and the screaming.”
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Bulent was first to find the attackers, before Mehmet arrived at the scene in his car.
The perpetrators, wearing black clothing and riding bikes, then started hitting his vehicle with the golf clubs.
Police said the clubs were also used to assault Bulent, who had to be taken to Cheltenham General Hospital by ambulance.
Before fleeing, it is claimed they shouted “next time we will kill you”. It is believed they left the scene in the direction of the Honeybourne Line.
Despite the terrifying ordeal the boy attended college on yesterday.
His aunty, Judith, said she was “ashamed” of the attackers.
“I’m British born. People are looking for an excuse to victimise somebody and they pick something like this. They pick a child and man who are as soft as anything. Bulent would do anything for anyone. They would never hurt anyone,” she added.
Business owner Mehmet, who has lived in Britain for about 24 years, said: “[My nephew] is very young, I’m very concerned about his feelings right now.
“I hope it won’t happen to other people.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Officers are treating this incident seriously and will not tolerate racially or religiously aggravated assaults or violence. Enquiries are ongoing to trace those responsible.”
Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101, quoting incident 4 of November 23.
