Attack on German exchange student is being treated as hate crime

Kent Police are treating the horrific attack on Daniel Ezzedine as a possible hate crime.

A German exchange student who was battered by a gang of thugs remains in an induced coma - but his condition is said to be improving.

The Mirror reported that Daniel Ezzedine, 17, was targeted by a group of six in Canterbury, Kent, in what is being treated as a possible hate crime.

The teenager, who was three days into a graduation trip when the attack happened, was airlifted to hospital where doctors told his family he had a "30 per cent chance" of survival.

The teenager's condition has been improving but he remains in an induced coma, two weeks on from the horrific attack.

Daniel, the youngest of five brothers, was due to fly home the day after the 6th June assault.

Bassam Ezzedine (Pictured above) spoke of his family's heartbreak following the attack.

Bassam Ezzedin, described his brother as a "lion". In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Bassam also said he hopes "Allah will continue to give you strength to be on your legs soon".

Bassam added in another post: "I am infinitely proud of you my lion."

Daniel's mother had to wait until three days after the assault to be by her son's side in hospital, having been granted an emergency visa as a non-EU citizen. The family moved to Germany from Lebanon 30 years ago, Bassam said.

Previously speaking to German news site RTL.de, Bassam said: "To start with the doctors told us his chance of survival would be 30 per cent. That was heartbreaking for us.

"He has called to say the outlook is to an extent better and his condition is no longer life threatening.

"He's in intensive care in hospital lying in an induced coma. "They're trying to wake him up, to pull him out of it, but whether there's long term damage, they don't know.

"It was difficult in the first (few) days. My mum could not get to England because she didn't have a visa.

"When you're not by your child's side when he could die, that's the worst that can happen.

"The most important thing is simply that someone is by his side. My two older brothers are there, my mum's there. And I hope that he'll soon get better.

"We can only hope and pray that there's an end to it soon. And that he's soon sitting here and we can laugh and enjoy ourselves again."

The incident has triggered a great outpouring of anti-racism sentiment in Cantebrury.

Last week protesters marched through the city to the scene of the attack under 'Stand up to racism' banners.

Seven people aged from 15 to 44 were arrested over the attack, but all have been released on bail.

According to the Mirror, Kent Police continue to investigate the incident and ask any witnesses with additional information to come forward.