A TEENAGER is drifting in and out of consciousness in hospital after being chased by yobs in a suspected racial attack, pushed to the ground, and kicked in the head.
Abdirashed Hassan, aged 17, from Sheffield city centre, had called for a takeaway on London Road with his friend when they were approached by a group who had been outside a pub.
Words were exchanged and the two young friends were chased along Lond
on Road and up a side street, where Abdi slipped and was caught.
His older brother, 29, who does not want to be named, said the youngster - a student at Sheffield College - is in the Northern General Hospital drifting in and out of consciousness.
He said he is appalled at the attack and believes it to have been racially motivated.
"He is a young Somalian man and was chased down the street by about 20 white men, five of whom then laid into him as he was on the ground," he said.
"I have heard racial abuse was hurled. My brother does not look for trouble and had just gone for a takeaway with his friend when these men from outside the pub crossed over the road and started on them.
"He is in hospital now in and out of consciousness and we just don't know what the outcome is going to be.
"By all accounts they kicked the living daylights out of him - his head was on the ground and they were all kicking him while he was down.
"We are a Sheffield family, professional people who play a part in community life, and do not deserve this.
"It's not the first time something like this has happened to us - two years ago my nephew was badly beaten up too. The people responsible for this need to be caught."
A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman two 17-year-olds had been arrested on suspicion of assault.
"The teenagers have been bailed pending further inquiries until later this month," she said.
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