Friday, January 29, 2010

Two Indians attacked in Brisbane

Why Indian, may I ask?



Faruque Ahmed

Moderator

Sydney Taxi Corruption, Mobile: 041 091 4118


Two Indians attacked in Brisbane

January 22, 2010

Two Indian nationals have been attacked in separate incidents in Brisbane overnight, but the Queensland Government says there is no indication the attacks were racially motivated.

Acting Premier Andrew Fraser says he wants to assure Indian nationals that Australia is a safe place.

"This is a welcoming, tolerant society," Mr Fraser told ABC Radio.

Police said a 25-year-old man was assaulted and robbed while using a phone box near his home in Macgregor, in Brisbane's south, about 10.40pm.

He was punched in the head twice and his wallet was stolen.

Police are searching for the attacker, described as being about 170 centimetres tall and of Pacific Islander appearance, with black curly hair.

In a separate incident, a taxi driver was attacked about 2.40am today after an argument broke out with two men in Carindale, in Brisbane's south-east.

The men punched the driver in the face several times and smashed the car's windscreen.

The driver was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital for cuts to his face and swelling to his right eye.

Two men, aged 28 and 25, are helping police with their inquiries.

Mr Fraser says there is no evidence the two matters are linked, adding that he hopes the incidents don't fuel more bad press in India.

"Queensland and Australia remain a very safe place," Mr Fraser said.

"There's no doubt this has been an issue in the international arena.

"That's why we want to emphasise ... that this is a welcoming, tolerant society.

"No one endorses any violence against any individual."

A number of recent attacks against Indian nationals, including the fatal stabbing this month of a Punjab-born student in Melbourne, have inflamed diplomatic tensions.

The issue has prompted a strong reaction in the Indian press, with one newspaper likening Australian police to the Ku Klux Klan for their purported inability to halt the assaults.

AAP

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