Family speaks out after teenager hit in head in 'senseless' attack

A teenager was left deeply “shocked and distressed” after being punched and kicked in the head in an unprovoked attack.

The incident happened on Friday May 24 in Whitehall Road, just off Revidge Road in Blackburn.

The 16-year-old was walking with his friend when a man carried out the “vicious” attack in the street.

The teenager's uncle, Tariq, said the family did not understand why someone would carry out a sustained attack on a young boy in this way.

He said: “This has been extremely distressing and shocking for us all. We don't understand any reason why this would happen.

“What kind of city do we live in where a young person can be attacked in the street?

“Our child was simply walking down the street and appeared to have been targeted for no reason. He didn't say or do anything that would cause this.

“He had no chance and was punched in the face, forcefully thrown to the ground, then kicked and hit on the head several times.

“Without a passerby he could have ended up seriously injured and thanks to his friend who managed to take a photo of the van.

“This was a senseless attack by an adult on a young boy.”

The two young boys had gone out for a walk after visiting a takeaway restaurant. They had passed a property and a man had shouted “What the hell are you looking at?” on them.

They understand two men then followed them, got out of a van and began attacking one of the boys.

Tariq said: “My nephew is very dizzy and we took him to the hospital as a precaution.

“He had to have a head scan to rule out any bleeding and several x-rays.

“He is an autistic child and we have worked hard as a family to provide for him and help him become independent.

“He undertakes voluntary work and has done so for two years for a local community group to build his confidence.

“Police have received the van’s number plate and we have now received an initial update on the progress of the investigation.”

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: “We were called to Whitehall Road, Blackburn, at 7.31pm on May 24 to reports of an assault.

“It was reported that a 16-year-old boy was assaulted by two unknown persons.

“No one has been arrested at this stage. We have a team of dedicated officers assigned to this case and investigations are ongoing.

“While we are keeping an open mind about the motive for the attack, it is not considered to be racially motivated.

“Anyone with information is asked to email [email protected] or call 101, quoting log 1295 of May 24.”