Facebook users have questioned why the watching crowd did not try to help - and voiced disgust some captured the stomach-churning scenes on camera.

London: A Sikh man was beaten up in a suspected racial attack in the British city of Birmingham and police have launched an investigation after the sickening video of the assault emerged on the Internet.

In the video, the victim can be seen desperately trying to cover his face, as a man punches and kicks him during the brutal attack on Sunday in Broad Street, Birmingham. A crowd is gathered around the man, but no-one tries to help him, Birmingham Mail reported.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "We are aware of a video posted on the Internet which appears to show a man being assaulted on Broad Street in Birmingham on Sunday, 29 March.

"It has been suggested the attack was religiously motivated. We would like to reassure people we take such reports extremely seriously and the matter will be fully investigated.

"We are currently making inquiries to establish exactly what has happened but at this stage, nobody has come forward to tell us they've been assaulted," the spokesperson said.

Police have asked the victim to come forward.

"I would encourage the man who appears to be the victim in the video to contact us, along with anyone else who was there at the time and can give us any further details," the spokesperson said.

Facebook users have questioned why the watching crowd did not try to help - and voiced disgust some captured the stomach-churning scenes on camera.

On the 'Daily Sikh Updates' Facebook site, one individual posted: "How many against one? No one there had the courage to step in. Shame on all the people that stood and watched."

Another asked: "Why is someone filming when they could be helping or at least trying to stop it? This is in front of a hotel reception - why didn't the bouncers stop it?"

PTI