TWO teens including a 15-year-old boy have been arrested after a student was battered in the street in London in a racist coronavirus attack.
Jonathan Mok, who has an English dad and Chinese mum, was targeted by the gang of yobs as he walked through Oxford Street.
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Police confirmed today they had arrested two boys aged 15 and 16 on suspicion of racially aggravated assault.
The youngest has been released on bail until later this month, while the older teen has been released under investigation.
Cops are still hunting two other men they want to identify in connection with the attack on February 24 and have released CCTV images.
UCL student Jonathan, who has lived in London for around two years, had bravely stood up to the louts after they shouted "I don't want your coronavirus in my country" at him.
But he claimed his blood "exploded" on the pavement after they launched into a brutal attack.
Writing on Facebook, Jonathan said: "All of a sudden, the first punch was swung at my face and took me by surprise. When I was still shocked by the first hit, the guy delivered the second sucker punch. By then, a few passers-by had stopped and one of them tried to reason with them that four on one was not fair.
'GROW A PAIR'
“The guy who tried to kick me then said, ‘I don’t want your coronavirus in my country’, before swinging another sucker punch at me, which resulted in my face exploding with blood (from my nose), where the blood was splattered all across the pavement.
“To the group of guys who saw fit to attack me because of my skin colour: here’s something for you; I stood up to you because I wasn’t afraid, I’ve faced far more intimidating characters in my life.
"And if you think ganging up on someone who is sizeably smaller than you makes you a big man, it doesn’t. It only makes every single one of you a coward who doesn’t have the balls to take someone on one-on-one. Grow a pair."
Jonathan also added photos of his battered and bruised face as he revealed he may need reconstructive surgery.
Detective Sergeant Emma Kirby, the officer in the case, said: “This attack left the victim shaken and hurt. There’s no room on our streets for this kind of violent behaviour and we are committed to finding the perpetrators.
“I am keen to speak to anyone who has information about this assault. I would like to identify and speak to the males pictured who may be able to help me with our enquiries.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 7522/24FEB or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The UK has seen a spate of coronavirus-related virus after the outbreak started in ground zero Wuhan in China.
Yesterday, a 75-year-old British woman became the first patient to die in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus.
The Department of Health also announced the number of positive tests across the UK has risen to 116.
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