British police say they have arrested two teenage boys after a racist attack on a student from Singapore amid a spate of incidents linked to the spread of the coronavirus.

The two boys were arrested "on suspicion of racially aggravated assault" after the late-night attack in central London's busy Oxford Street, the Metropolitan Police said.

A 16-year-old suspect was released "under investigation" while a 15-year-old was released on bail, the police said, adding that inquiries were continuing.

#ARREST | Detectives investigating a racially aggravated attack on a man in Oxford Street have arrested two males.



Police are still appealing for information about the identify of two other males pictured.



⬇️https://t.co/kmOeDN9Tu9 — Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 6, 2020

The police said on Wednesday that they were seeking four suspects.

The victim, Jonathan Mok, 23, posted an account on Facebook on Monday, saying one of his attackers told him: "I don't want your coronavirus in my country."

The police said Mr Mok was "punched, kicked, and sustained facial injuries".

"This attack left the victim shaken and hurt," Detective Sergeant Emma Kirby said.

"There's no room on our streets for this kind of violent behaviour and we are committed to finding the perpetrators."

Mr Mok noted that racist assaults against Asian people had "been on the rise" in recent weeks.

"Personally, I have experienced several racist statements directed to me in the past weeks, some involving references to the coronavirus," Mr Mok wrote.

"To those people who told me that London isn't racist, think again," he said.