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An international student is “too petrified” to return to his job after two men assaulted him near his workplace, levelling racial slurs before removing and stealing his turban.

The student, who his employer says is from India, was swarmed Friday night by two white men while waiting for a bus near Westgate Shopping Centre. Police are investigating the attack as a possible hate crime, saying on Tuesday that the assault “would appear to have racial overtones.”

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Police are hunting for the two suspects, both described as being in their 20s.

Citing privacy concerns for the student, whose name was not released by police, the student’s employer asked for the name of his business to be withheld. The employer also would not reveal the student’s name.

The employer said Friday was the student’s second day of work. The student worked late into the evening, ending his shift at 11 p.m., before running to catch a bus. The next time he saw the student, more than 30 minutes later, he was crying outside the business, telling his employer, “They beat me up.”