Autistic boy bashed by Sudanese gang on Melbourne bus
This is the chilling moment a gang of five Sudanese teenagers allegedly bashed their autistic classmate, 17, in a horrific attack on a Melbourne bus on Saturday.
Josh*, 17, was travelling alone on the bus at Tarneit, west of the the city's centre, when five boys approached him and told him to hand over his mobile phone and new Nike shoes.
When he refused, the group allegedly attacked him, kicking him in the head so hard he suffered a concussion and required a CT scan to check for permanent damage, his mother Sarah* said.
CCTV footage from inside the bus obtained by 9 News shows the group of boys surrounding Josh and taunting him before one allegedly launches a flying kick.
Josh (pictured), 17, was travelling alone on the bus at Tarneit when five Sudanese boys allegedly approached him and told him to hand over his new Nike shoes and wallet
When he refused, the group allegedly attacked him, kicking him in the head so hard he suffered a concussion (pictured is CCTV footage from inside the Melbourne bus)
'The kid who bullied me at my school, he said to me, "Do I know you?" [And] I'm like, "Well yeah you're the kid who bullied me",' Josh told 9 News.
'As soon as we turned the corner I got one kick to the face straight across from me, and then one kick to the face from in front of me.'
Josh's mother Sarah told 3AW on Tuesday her distressed son called him in tears.
'He said, "Mum I'm scared",' Sarah said.
'It has taken a lot out of him because he doesn't want to go on public transport again.'
Josh claims one of the boys involved in the alleged attack was a classmate of his. A 16-year-old boy has since been charged over the incident and Victoria Police are investigating
When Josh's mother drove to meet him at Tarneit McDonald's, she claims the group of five Sudanese men grew to a group of about 30 within minutes
Sarah said she immediately drove to meet her injured son where the bus pulled over at Tarneit McDonald's.
Within minutes, she said the group of five Sudanese men grew to a group of about 30.
'When we drove past the McDonald's, they spotted my son in the car. They [five offenders] chased the car so I drove off and waited for police on the side of the road,' she told 9 News.
Sarah said Tarneit was 'overrun by Sudanese' people and claimed they often gathered at the local McDonald's.
She said reports of violent behaviour from young Sudanese men in the area left her feeling scared for her son and the larger Melbourne community.
A spate of criminal activity has swept across Melbourne in the past 18 months, with a series of car-jackings, armed robberies and home invasions, blamed largely on the notorious Apex gang
Apex gang members are primarily from a Sudanese refugee background (two members pictured)
'It's not safe for anyone, let alone for someone with a disability, they put so much trust in everybody,' she said.
A spate of criminal activity has swept across Melbourne in the past 18 months, with a series of carjackings, armed robberies and home invasions, blamed largely on the notorious Apex gang.
Apex gang members are primarily from a Sudanese refugee background.
Sarah called on the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to take action.
'For Christ's sake, just open your eyes and see what's going on around you, there will be more than one life taken soon,' she said.
'My son was lucky he got out of it the way he did.
'When is the Government going to wake up? I'm very angry, very very angry.'
Wyndham North police have charged a 16-year-old boy with attempted robbery and assault over the incident.
Police arrested the teen at the scene and he's been bailed to appear at a Children's Court at a later date.
The police investigation to identify others involved in the incident is continuing.
*Names have been changed as the matter is before the Children's Courts.