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A menacing gang of Dublin youths - including kids as young as 10 - used a bicycle lock to violently assault international students in a frightening attack.

Ambarish Kumar Sonbhadra and Prince Kumar Singh are Masters students in International Business Management at Griffith College and were on their way home from an exam when they were set upon by the vicious young thugs.

The 24-year-old students, both from New Delhi in India, were taking their usual path back to their house in Crumlin when a sudden chase began.

Speaking to Dublin Live, the pair said they do not feel safe in Dublin any more and would not recommend the city as a place to study - or even visit for a holiday.

Prince said: "We were just finished after having our semester exams in the college.

"While coming back, we took our regular path of Clogher Road passing through Eamonn Ceannt Park.

"As we reached the entrance of the park, we saw a group of seven or eight children aged between 10 to 14 years of age standing at the entrance.

"We entered the park and after about 50 to 60 metres we felt like someone was following us."

It wasn't long before the suspicion of being followed turned into a full-on chase which became nasty when the gang used the weapon to attack the defenceless students.

Ambarish continued: "Suddenly I got hit on the left heel but we ignored this and started moving a bit faster. We turned back when I got hit and saw the same group of kids following us.

"They threw a heavy bicycle lock at us which missed us both by an inch or so.

"We decided to change our route and climbed up to the football ground inside the park but even after changing the route the kids did not stop following and teasing us, they even started abusing us and demanded money.

"One of the kids swung for Prince and hit him on the leg, this is when we started running and screaming for help.

"They threw the bicycle lock once more which smacked me on the back of the head and left me badly injured."

The victims exited the park and headed in the direction of Sundrive Road before calling the Gardai and ambulance.

Prince added: "The Gardai came after 20 to 25 minutes and they took our statement regarding the incident.

"After about an hour the ambulance came and we were sent to St. James's hospital.

"We were in the emergency ward for about five hours where Ambarish had to get two stitches to the back of his head.

"Neither of us feel safe in Dublin now. If anyone asked me what I thought about [Dublin], I would never suggest anyone to come here."

Documents seen by Dublin Live shows that St. James's Hospital deemed Ambarish unfit to work or attend college for days following the traumatising incident.

Speaking about the incident, a Garda spokesman said that investigations into the assault are ongoing.

They also appealed to anyone who may have spotted the incident to come forward, adding that they are currently looking for CCTV footage and further evidence.