Chinese officials have urged Tasmanian authorities to “severely punish” those allegedly behind an attack on an international student in Hobart last week.
The 33-year-old Chinese man was allegedly set upon by a group of teenagers at Northgate in Glenorchy on Tuesday.
As first reported by Pulse, he had reportedly confronted the group after spotting them setting fire to bins.
Chinese media say the student suffered a brain bleed, concussion, skull fractures and facial injuries.
They report he spent more than 30 hours in intensive care and remains in hospital in a stable condition.
The Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne says the man is now ‘out of danger’ but has urged Chinese citizens in Australia to take extra safety precautions.
“[We] urge the Australian side to severely punish the perpetrators and to take concrete measures to safeguard the personal safety of Chinese citizens,” the consulate said in a social media post.
The South China Morning Post says consular officials plan to visit the man and his family.
It also reports the family has been deeply moved by the outpouring of support from Hobart’s Chinese community.
Tasmania Police say several teenagers have been arrested over the Glenorchy incident and are now before the Youth Justice Division of the Hobart Magistrates Court.
All were charged with criminal code assault and released on bail with conditions.
The consulate has advised Chinese citizens and students to avoid direct confrontation if they face verbal or physical attacks from strangers, to leave the scene immediately and to contact police or the consulate for help.
The warning comes just weeks after a similar notice was issued, following an alleged attack by teenage girls on a visiting Chinese couple in Hobart’s CBD.
