A gang of youths beat to death a 16-year-old language student from a wealthy Qatari family, in what is being treated as a racist attack in a British seaside town, police said Tuesday. Mohammed Al-Majed, 16, from Qatar, was with friends when he was assaulted outside a kebab takeaway in Hasting, east Sussex, on Friday night. He suffered a head injury and died in London's King's College Hospital on Sunday. Al-Majed was a student at EF International Language Schools in White Rock, Hastings. Many Saudi students are staying with host families or hostels in Hastings, studying in about 14 language schools in the area for the summer. Fellow EF student, Abdullah Ababtain, 19, from Saudi Arabia, said foreign pupils were now fearful of further trouble. He said: “I think what happened is so so bad. All the people when they come to study English next year may not choose here, because there are problems. “I get scared now. I told my host family I want to stay at home.” Dr Remzi Tanriverdi, 43, who owns nearby takeaway, said: “I was cleaning when it happened. A boy called my name, put a mobile in my hand and said call the police.” “I saw the English boys attack the Arab boys in the street. There were two fights but I didn't see the second. “I have been told that they punched him, he fell down, then they kicked him in the head.” He added: “It's a big tragedy for Hastings. We'll see how this affects the language schools and host families. Those boys are very cruel. I knew something would happen because there's always problems here.” Other witnesses said Al-Majed was kicked to death by drunken, hooded thugs in an unprovoked attack. Three men, aged 17, 18 and 20, have already been arrested and released on bail On Tuesday police said they have arrested an 18-year-old local man in connection with the death. Al-Majed had spent about five weeks in Hastings and was due to return home next weekend, said Sussex Police Chief Inspector Natalie Carron. “His death is incredibly sad.”
