In the heart of downtown Sydney, Australia, a Korean man in his 20s was assaulted with a hammer by unidentified men, prompting a local investigation.
According to 7News and other local media on the 20th (local time), at about 3 a.m. on the 18th, three people of Asian descent, including a 23-year-old Korean man, were assaulted by three other men near an intersection in central Sydney.
A social media video of the incident shows the assailants surrounding the Korean man and repeatedly punching and kicking him until he fell to the ground. One man in particular pulled out a hammer and swung it, striking the Korean multiple times. They also threw punches at the other young men who were with the Korean.
Police dispatched after a report said they obtained statements that three unidentified men approached and assaulted three young men, ages 23, 28, and 29, who were walking along the street, but the assailants had already left the scene before officers arrived. The victims received first aid from paramedics at the scene, and police are currently investigating.
After the incident, the injured Korean man posted a photo of his bruised face on Instagram, saying, "Two days ago, I almost died from a real hammer," and, "They hit me with a hammer. They were really out of their minds," recounting what happened.
He added, "I do not hate Australia. I just hope they move in a good direction and respect everyone," and, "Something bad has already happened to me, but I hope things like this do not happen."
The young man, who is in Australia on a working holiday visa, was reportedly attacked on his way home with two Thai friends after a party. According to local outlets, the assailants are believed to be white and Middle Eastern men.