'I felt safer in London': Man shaken after alleged racial assault by child in Leeds street
A man who claims he was racially assaulted when visiting Leeds said he “only felt somewhat safe” when he returned to London.
Hongji Feng, 25, said that he was minding his own business on Briggate on New Year’s Day when a young child hurled a racial slur at him and hit him with an object.
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Mr Feng, originally from Chongqing in China, has lived in the USA and the Middle East but said he has “never experienced” what happened in Leeds, adding that it “ruined” his time in the city.
The alleged attack, which police are investigating, happened on January 1, when Mr Feng had come from London to visit a friend.
At 6.10pm, he said he was walking on Briggate when he was targeted. The incident led to a confrontation which has been widely shared on social media.
He said that as soon as he called the police the alleged perpetrator ran off.
Mr Feng said he was frustrated at West Yorkshire Police for their “apparent unwillingness to pursue readily available evidence”. The force has now said that it is carrying out enquiries.
Asked how the experience affected him, Mr Feng said: “I’m going to be very frank. I’ve lived in a lot of places and this is the first time someone called me that.
“Throughout my life I have never anticipated someone to confront me because physically I’m quite tall, let alone someone so young.
“My first reaction was shock.”
He added: “I was going to stay in Leeds for three or four days but it very much ruined my entire trip.
“I eventually chose to visit nearby cities by trains during daytime and only felt somewhat safe when I returned to London.
“I have received messages and comments telling me how the incident and the suspects do not represent England or Yorkshire, and there were people offering help and asking me what happened right after which I truly appreciate.”
Mr Feng said that he was frustrated at West Yorkshire Police for not acting sooner or acquiring CCTV footage from the nearby McDonald’s on Briggate.
On January 3, he received an email from police saying that the crime would be put on file, due to a lack of evidence and because the child was “under the age of criminal responsibility”.
Mr Feng subsequently provided further evidence and West Yorkshire Police has now said that enquiries are ongoing into the reported racially aggravated assault.