A 16-year-old German student has been violently attacked in Kent in what police have said was a race hate crime.

Christian Hattensperger needed stitches to his head after being beaten with a metal bar in Margate.

 

He was attacked by local youths on Wednesday night, who verbally abused him because of his nationality.

 

His English teacher Eva Wilke said she feared attacks would escalate during the World Cup. Thanet MP Roger Gale said it brought "shame on the town".

 

Mr Hattensperger, who was in Kent to learn English, told BBC South East Today: "He just took a metal stick and swung it into my forehead and caused quite serious injury."

 

He and his fellow students were playing football in Dane Park, near the seafront, at about 2130 BST when the attack happened.

 

The student said: "I think the reason they attacked me is because we were German and the World Cup starts in a few days."

 

Ms Wilke said foreign students had been attacked dozens of times in the past few years.

 

She said: "The poor boy had to spend half a night in hospital and had to have stitches.

 

"It was quite a serious incident. He wasn't just slapped around the face, he was actually attacked with a metal object."

 

Mr Gale said: "There are people who use events like the World Cup as an excuse for xenophobic violence.

 

"It could happen in any town in the country. Sadly, it's happened in Margate and that brings shame on the town."

 

 

 

have you heard of that?

well, i think it's a shame.

as the mp already said it could happen in any other country.

what's the deal with the nationalities?

we're all the freakin same. ...

but may i ask the english a question? no offend

i just wanna know .. is it true that the british are against germans?

and are germans really treated like that in the uk?

that's terrible!!!!! over a GAME?!?! good lord.

Thats life, its very sad but shit like this happens in every country.

still doesn't justify that crime.

I never said it did.