South Asians, including 6 Indians, attacked in London

London: A group of Muslim South Asian students, including at least six of Indian origin, were attacked near the prestigious City University in north London on Tuesday.

Three students and a passerby who tried to intervene had to be hospitalised with facial and head injuries when a mob of 30 people armed with knives, metal poles, bricks and sticks attacked the South Asian students, police said.

A spokeswoman for the university, which is ranked among the world's top 500 and has a large number of international students - including many from India - said the university's Islamic society was unable to confirm if any of the students involved were Indian nationals.

The university did not give out the names of the students, but a spokesman for a nationwide body of Muslim students told IANS that those targeted by the mob included at least six students of Indian origin.

"We are trying to find out if any of them are Indian nationals," said Qasim Rafiq of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS).

Apart from those wounded in knife attacks, two other men were also beaten in the violence, police said, adding three teenagers have been arrested so far.

Reports said that earlier in the week, racist groups shouted abuse at a student going into a prayer room at the university, and later attacked him and other students escorting him to the underground train station.

One student suffered a fractured skull in the incident.

Detective Inspector Trevor Borley of the local Islington force said police patrolling in the area has been increased, and "we are taking this matter very seriously".

Rafiq said, "We believe these attacks involved the same group but there have been sporadic attacks at other universities over the last year," adding the gang repeatedly shouted out "Get those Muslims" and "Paki".

"We're shocked and saddened that some of our students have been the victims of an attack near the University," but added that London is "on the whole a safe, friendly and welcoming city," said City University acting Vice-Chancellor Jullius Weinberg.