Barry – A young boy has been assaulted on a bus in an antisemitic attack.

The incident happened on Monday at 1.15pm on a bus which was near to the Ty Verlon Industrial Estate on Cardiff Road in Barry.

The bus was travelling from Barry to Cardiff at the time.

South Wales Police they are treating the incident as a hate crime.

A spokeswoman said a man and woman approached a young boy and his mother on the bus and asked them if they were Welsh. The boy’s mother replied saying she was born in Israel.

The woman then punched the boy in the eye, meaning he needed hospital treatment, and also grabbed his mouth.

According to an eyewitness, the other bus users spoke up to defend the mother and her son.

Sonya Ataou’s son Ethan, 21, was one of the passengers on the bus and she said he helped remove the woman from the bus.

Sonya said: “My son is autistic and he was on his way to college.

“A couple at the back of the bus were being loud and vulgar. The man was intoxicated but they didn’t know if it was alcohol or drugs.

“People told the man to be quiet and he started shouting at people on the bus.

“He went up to the boy and said ‘where are you from?’.

“He then started verbal, antisemitic abuse.

“Everyone on the bus was standing up for the boy.

“The driver stopped the bus and told them to get off. The guy left the bus but the woman went for the boy. She hit him in the head and he was bleeding.

“My son then pushed her off the bus.

“It is not like him because he is against violence in any form but he was so upset with what he saw.”

Sonya said: “I am very proud of my son. I can’t believe a young lad has been attacked like this. I can’t imagine what he is feeling.”

South Wales Police asked for any witnesses to call them on 101 quoting reference number 1800440009 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Cardiff Bus has been approached for comment.