A Syrian refugee family are considering leaving Huddersfield because they say their children have been subjected to sustained racial and physical abuse.
Footage of a school playground incident involving one of the children was shared widely on social media on Tuesday night. It appears to show a boy being pulled to the ground and water being poured on his face.
West Yorkshire police said they were investigating an allegation of a racially aggravated assault against a 15-year-old boy, and added that a 16-year-old boy would be charged with assault.
The incident occurred at Almondbury community school on 25 October.
Tasnime Akunjee, a solicitor representing the family, said they were considering moving away from the area and had received offers to be rehomed in Oxford.
He said the couple’s daughter, who attends the same school, had been bullied by another group of pupils. Last week someone forcibly removed the girl’s hijab. On Tuesday a girl was excluded from the school over the incident.
Akunjee said the family had contacted him and their local MP, Barry Sheerman, a month ago. “The family had concerns about their children and the environment their children were in at school. They weren’t sure how to engage assistance because of the language barrier. We were so concerned about these children that we contacted the school, council and the local police.”
The family came to Huddersfield two years ago after fleeing persecution under the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria. They first went to Lebanon, where they lived for six years, and were later given safe passage to Britain by the UN before being resettled in 2016.
A fundraising page for the boy and his family has received more than £77,000 in donations since it was launched on Tuesday night.
Mohammed Tahir, who set up the page, said: “I’m overwhelmed by the support that we’ve received and I can’t thank everyone enough for the generous donations they have made. I am working alongside GoFundMe so we can make sure every last penny gets to the family and I want to thank them for their support.”
Sheerman said: “I have been dealing with this case for almost a month. The school have responded with alacrity and the police have been diligent. As soon as we got the complaint we took action. The school and everyone has been shocked.”
A spokesperson for West Yorkshire police said a 16-year-old boy had been interviewed and reported for summons for an offence of assault, and would appear at youth court in due course.
“The incident occurred on 25 October this year and has been subject to thorough investigation since it was reported to us the day after. The alleged victim and his family are receiving ongoing support from police and other agencies,” the force said.
It said an unconnected incident on 7 October, in which the same boy sustained a wrist injury, had also been fully investigated at the time. Three youths were interviewed but no further police action was taken and the matter was referred to the school.
The video of the later incident has been viewed thousands of times and attracted hundreds of comments of condemnation.
The school’s headteacher, Trevor Bowen, said: “The safety and welfare of students is of paramount importance to us and this was a very serious incident. We are not able to comment further as we are supporting the police with their investigation but I want to be clear that we do not tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any sort in our school.”
Kirklees council said: “Neither us nor the school condone violence in any form, and behaviour like this will not be tolerated.”
The council has been approached for further comment.
