Racial attacks on Indian students spread to South Australia with a 22-year-old being allegedly assaulted by a teenager in Adelaide after making "rude" comments about his turban, even as the state premierwarned he will not tolerate any form of racism.
Police said the Indian student suffered a broken nose and sore jaw in the incident in Adelaide's busy market area of Rundle Mall on Thursday and that they have arrested a 17-year-old youth in this connection. The attacker has been bailed to appear in the Adelaide Youth Court.
A bystander said he saw the Indian student punching first, but the student claimed that his attacker started the spat when he hit him on his turban and asked "what's that on your head?".
The student, whose requested anonymity, was walking through a local mall with friends when he heard a commotion
behind him, local media reported. The spate of racial attacks against Indians spread to Adelaide, capital city of South Australia, after members of the community were targeted in Melbourne and Sydney.
South Australian Premier Mike Rann described the attack as a "disgrace" and said the state has been welcoming migrants and students from around the world for many years.
"We are seen internationally as one of the safest and most supportive multicultural communities. We will not tolerate any